XN000022-1995-09-08 — Page 14

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The centenary of the Victoria Prison in 1941 was marked by the Japanese invasion and occupation. When the war ended in 1945, it was found that most of the buildings had been severely damaged by bombing. Repairs were effected and it was re-opened in 1946.

The former Central Magistracy

The construction of the Central Magistracy commenced in 1913 and was completed in 1914. The site was originally occupied by another Magistracy which was probably erected as early as 1847 but was later demolished to make way for the Central Magistracy.

The walls of the Magistracy are of Canton red brick on lime mortar, faced externally with Amoy bricks. The massive pillars of the facade and other principal features of the building, finished in finely moulded cement-concrete, suggest a Greek- revival style. The main entrance doorway at the high retaining wall facing Arbuthnot Road has fine dressed granite arch and pediment.

The Magistracy was closed on January 13, 1979, and is now used as offices and club premises of the police.

End/Friday, September 8, 1995

Head of Trade to lead HK team at APEC meeting in HK

The Director-General of Trade, Mr Tony Miller, will head a Hong Kong delegation at the 4th Special Session of Senior Officials Meeting for the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) to be held in Hong Kong on September 12 and 13.

Senior Officials of APEC Economies will continue to work on drawing up an "action agenda" for realising the goal of free and open trade and investment in the region by the year 2020.

The free trade goal was promulgated by the 18 Economic Leaders of APEC at their meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, in November last year.

The meeting, to be held at Hotel Furama, will be preceded by an informal meeting of the Committee on Trade and Investment to be held on Monday (September 11), as well as a sub-committee meeting on Standards and Conformance on Sunday (September 10).