XN000022-1985-07-07 — Page 11

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SURMAY, JULY 7, 1985

A FURTHER SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE, HE SAID, FOR THE PRINCIPAL SPACES SUCH AS THE CHAMBER, THE ANTE-CHAMBER AND THE UMELCO SOCIAL-DINING AREA.

SERVICING THE BUILDING TO CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS HAD ALSO MEANT VERY CAREFUL PLANNING OF TRUNKING AND CONDUIT ROUTINGS, MACHINERY LOCATIONS, AND EQUIPMENT SELECTION, MR MATTHEWS POINTED OUT, AND THESE WERE NOW PROGRESSING TOGETHER WITH THE MAIN WORK.

THE FIRST STAGE OF THE WORKS, MR MATTHEWS NOTED, HAD BEEN THE CAREFUL DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL OF REDUNDANT PARTITIONS, ENCLOSURES, AIR-CONDITIONING AND OTHER EQUIPMENT.

THESE DEMOLITION WORKS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED BY STRUCTURAL CONVERSION WORKS, INCLUDING RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO PRINCIPAL STAIRCASES, THE ADDITION OF A PASSENGER LIFT AND DUMB-WAITER, AND INSTALLING TWO GALLERIES INTO THE CHAMBER ITSELF.

IN SOME PARTS OF THE BUILDING, THE OLD BRICK AND GRANITE STRUCTURE HAD REQUIRED STRENGTHENING, PARTICULARLY THOSE ELEMENTS WHICH SUFFERED FROM DE-WATERING AND SETTLEMENT OF THE GROUND DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION'S CENTRAL STATION.

AFTER CONVERSION, THE FIRST FLOOR WILL BE USED AS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER WITH CONFERENCE FACILITIES, AND THE GROUND AND SECOND FLOORS OF THE THREE-STOREY COURT BUILDING WILL BE OCCUPIED BY UMELCO.

KEEPING UP WITH MODERN DAY DEVELOPMENT THE CHAMBER WILL HAVE SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION FACILITIES AS WELL AS IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS FOR FOUR PERMANENT TELEVISION POSITIONS AND FOUR RADIO COMMENTARY BOXES AT THE SECOND FLOOR LEVEL.

ON THE FIRST FLOOR, THERE WILL ALSO BE A SUITE FOR THE GOVERNOR (OR +PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL) AND HIS SUPPORTING STAFF, A FINANCE COMMITTEE ROOM, TWO CONFERENCE ROOMS FOR UMELCO, AND A PRESS ROOM.

FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED ON THE GROUND FLOOR ARE THE COMPLAINTS OFFICE ROOMS, THREE INTERVIEW ROOMS, ONE COMPLAINTS WAITING ROOM, ONE COMPLAINTS MEETING ROOM, A GENERAL OFFICE WITH PRINTING FACILITIES AND A KITCHEN.

THE TOP FLOOR WILL HAVE OFFICES FOR UMELCO, A LIBRARY MEMBERS' SUITE AND A SOCIAL-DINING AREA FOR OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS.

/THE IMMEDIATE