1134 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5TH DECEMBER, 1896.
5. Projects have been considered with a view respectively to meeting the requirements of these departments in the existing buildings and for the erection of entirely new offices on the Praya Reclamation in the vicinity of the City Hall.
6. The question of the desirability of inviting competitive designs for new offices was also considered at Your Excellency's request (see appendix A), and on the motion of Mr. CHATER, seconded by Mr. MCCONACHIE, it was decided by a majority of three (the Chairman and Mr. THOMSON not voting) that "the Com- mittee is in favour of inviting public competition and awarding a premium for the most suitable design and plans sent in."
The Chairman moved as an amendment that the plans and designs be pre- pared by the Public Works Department and submitted to a consulting architect in England for report and revision if desirable, but the amendment was not seconded.
Particulars and conditions of competition, which will be found in appendix B, were submitted by the Director of Public Works, adopted with some amend- ments, and forwarded for Your Excellency's consideration on the 15th May Tast.
CONDITION OF THE PRESENT GOVERNMENt Offices.
7. The Committee has obtained from the Director of Public Works the follow- ing information respecting the present Government Offices and the suitability of their accommodation for the departments located in them.
8. Government Offices, St. John's Place. The present building was erected in 1848 at an approximate cost of £14,393 and is situated about 100 feet above sea level, approached by Battery Pathway leading off Queen's Road at Ice House St.
The building consists of two floors, each containing thirteen rooms, and has
• a massive verandah on the western side.
The ground floor is occupied by the Public Works Department and the upper floor by the Council Chamber, Colonial Secretary's Department, and the Local Auditor.
The building is in a substantial state of repair and it is not anticipated that any exceptionally heavy expenditure will be necessary in the near future in order to maintain it in such a condition.
The accommodation provided for the Council Chamber, Colonial Secretary and Local Auditor appears adequate, but that provided on the ground floor for the Public Works Department is inadequate and badly arranged for the requirements of that department. The rooms are too small and insufficiently lighted.
9. The Supreme Court buildings consist of a two-storied building, the upper floor being devoted to the Courts, Registry and subsidiary offices, and the ground floor to the Land Office and Registrar General's Department.
The site on which they stand was obtained in 1847 from Messrs. DENT & CO. for the sum of £5,000, being then occupied by what were known as the "Exchange Buildings."
In 1848 certain alterations were made to the Exchange Buildings at a cost of £1,000 to render them fit for the purposes of a Court House.
In 1864 accommodation for the Registrar General's Department was provided in the north-east corner of the ground floor, but being found insufficient for the requirements of the department additions were carried out at a cost of $4,300.
In 1883 the Land Office, which had previously been attached to the Public Works Department, was transferred to this building.
From the foregoing account it will be seen that the buildings originally pur- chased in 1847 for the purpose of a Court House have undergone several extensive alterations and additions. The offices are now badly arranged, crowded on the site and ill ventilated, while those on the ground floor are also badly lighted.
Their general condition is such that a heavy expenditure on repairs will be necessary in the course of a few years if their occupation is to be continued.
The present accommodation is quite inadequate to meet the requirements of the Court and Registry, particularly the latter. By
By a recent arrangement the
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.