Hong Kong Builder
45
PERSONALITIES IN HONG KONG'S BUILDING INDUSTRY
Mr. Leslie Ross, F.R.I.B.A.
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Building industry circles in Hong Kong undoubtedly very much interested in the recent an- nouncement that Mr. Leslie Ross, F.R.I.B.A., had returned from England and had taken up practice in Hong Kong again as a partner in the well-known firm of Little, Adams and Wood, with whom he had been connected for some time previous to his departure for Home They probably did not know, however, that his prolonged absence from the Colony was an invol- untary one and due to an unfortunate accident in London.
When he left for England in March 1936 it was his intention to return before the end of the year. In September he was run down by a motor cyclist in Lon- don and sustained a very severe compound fracture of the right leg which incapacitated him for a consi- derable period. His many friends here, however, will be pleased to learn that he has entirely recovered from the effects of this accident and that he is looking forward with a great deal of pleasure to resuming his work here.
Mr. Ross has had a long and varied career in the Colony dating back to 1910 when he was an Architect in the Public Works Department. Between 1910 and 1916 he was for a large part of the period in charge of the Architectural Office of the P. W. D., working on the Law Courts and the Post Office Building, and was personally responsible for the design and execution of the new Magistracy, the rebuilding of the Central Police Station, the Peak School and many other Government buildings of this period.
He resigned in 1916 to join a local firm of architects but after only a few months of private practice was permitted to leave for England on War Service. He serve as an Officer (Captain) in Belgium, France, Italy and Germany until demobilized in 1920.
From 1921 to 1928 he was in private practice with the firm of Mence & Ross, L. & A.R.I.B.A., at St. Albans, Herts in England.
From March 1929 to March 1933 he was Chief Assistant in the firm of Little, Adams & Wood in Hong Kong during which period he was in charge of the erec- tion of the La Salle College, the extension of the Yeung Wo Hospital, etc., etc.
He then established his own firm and until he went Home on what was intended to be a short holiday, he designed and was responsible for the carrying out of the construction work on Dina House, Duddell Street; blocks of ninety-six flats at Shamshuipo; several houses on the Peak; the new Dogs' Home; Bus Station and Shelters at Tsim Sha Tsui and many other projects.
Regarding building conditions in England he says, "In spite of much talk of depression from various causes, there is considerable building activity at Home, in many directions. Numerous fine buildings have been erected during the past two or three years, such as the new R.I.B.A. premises, London University (Bloomsbury Site), the New Adelphi, the Hall of Nations, Cardiff, Earls Court Exhibition Buildings, Norwich City Hall, to mention only a few. There seems to be, also, never ending erection of huge blocks of Residential Flats, especially in London and its more exclusive suburb. These flats are almost invariably equipped with every modern device for comfort, convenience and entertain- ment, such as swimming pools, garages, tennis and squash courts, restaurants, central heating and con- stant hot water, radios etc. In one case I noticed that even the supply of a morning paper was included in the rent! Although rents are in many cases high, as is only to be expected, there appears to be no difficulty in letting these flats the moment they are completed."
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