No_4_April_1968 — Page 3

news review

Architects' president call for higher taxes

HONG KONG's recently presented budget for 1968- 69 was described by Mr. Alfred V. Alvares, presi- dent of the Hong Kong Society of Architects, as a "stay-put affair" which imposed a regime of status quo. Presenting his inaugural ad- dress at a meeting of the society last month, the president said that some form of additional taxation to provide the money for some form of stimulated civic activity would have included ar- chitects in a manifestly apparent march forward.

A. V. Alvarez

"Not many modern financiers approve the spectacle of a gov- ernment in the role of a matron tight with the purse strings," he stated. **When a government spends, the dollars percolate to all levels of society.

"Taxes to enable it to spend on more houses, more schools, more hospitals and more roads are to be preferred to a policy of caution by which reserves ac- cumulate in vaults abroad only to be wiped out as a result of international developments over which we have no control."

Referring to the recent controversy concerning the design of the Hong Pavilion at Expo '70 in Osaka, Mr. Alvares was critical of those architects who had made their opinions public. He thought that they should follow the ethics of the medical and legal pro- fessions. He did however add his voice to the call for more architectural competitions sponsored by Govern- ment, which would, he said, stimulate the profession as a whole and give an incentive to better architecture.

Finally the president mentioned the pressing need for the establishment of a Register of Architects in Hong Kong. He said that the present hodge-podge of accessibility into the ranks of architects was all right for a more leisurely and spacious age, but if a uniform standard of professional conduct was wanted the crea- tion of a register could scarcely be avoided.

Standard form of contract for use in Hong Kong

AFTER four years of preparation, a standard form of building contract for use in Hong Kong has now been published and is available to architects and con- tractors from the secretary of the Hong Society of Architects.

Far East BUILDER, April 1968.

The form, freely based on the RIBA standard form of contract, has been produced by a joint com- mittee of representatives from the architects, the Hong Kong Society of Builders and the Hong Kong and China Branch of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. The committee had its first meeting in July 1964.

In addition to the standard contract form, which is published with or without quantities, two associated sub-contract forms are available. These are for use where sub-contractors or suppliers are nominated and must be used in conjunction with the main contract form.

Mr. Hugh Lim, secretary of the Society of Build- ers, said that the new form constituted a standard document which both contractor and architect would understand and appreciate. It was, he said, a welcome alternative to the variety of contracts now employed, which often were open to many different interpreta- tions. The new document should provide a clear and equitable basis for agreement.

In brief terms the form, as with the RIBA form, requires the contractor to carry out precisely specified works, as described in detail, the manner of doing this being a matter solely for the contractor so long as he

Far East BUILDER

Among several changes which this issue incor- porates is the shorter title

Far East Builder. Colloquially, the journal has been known simply as 'the Builder' for many years. So, in redesigning its front cover, the publishers have adopted the more generic term.

From this issue the new standard is set in a more attractive full-colour cover picture. Certain typographical changes have been made within the journal too, to improve its appearance and readability.

and

This April issue heralds other unseen changes. The growing demand for readership from architects management in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines has raised the number of copies printed and distributed each month from 5,000 to 8,000. In addition the circulation has been divided for the benefit of adver- tisers, who may now choose between reaching the full 8,000 or those readers in a particular region.

produces the specified building in the specified time to the reasonable satisfaction of the architect.

The method of working, progress charts and the like, are matters solely for the contractor, although the architect may advise, as distinct from instruct, the con- tractor if he considers that the contractor's method of

going about the job is unlikely to produce the specified

result.

Instructions must always be in writing. The form gives no power to the architect to give instructions at large and entitles the contractor to ask the architect to name the precise provision under which the instruction is given.

Don Muang Airport contract

PROMVIVAT Construction Co. has won the con- tract for improving Don Muang Airport runway, Bang- kok. The runway is to be extended and brought up to standard for the landing of jumbo jets.

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