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With reference to the plans under consideration, we think it right to say that considering the difficulties of the site and area, under which they have been pre- pared, great ingenuity has been shown in meeting the requirements as far as possible, but we cannot consider them an altogether satisfactory solution of the problem.
The order of procedure in the Law Courts in Hongkong does not differ in essentials from that which obtains in England, and the provisions requisite for the orderly and convenient working of the establishment are, generally speaking, the same. There should be a Central Hall, large, lofty, well-lighted and well- ventilated, for the use of the general public having business with the Courts. and to which the public should be almost entirely restricted. From this Hall, direct access should be had to each Court through intervening lobbies. There should be at least two Waiting Rooms for Witnesses immediately wanted. There should be a "Bar" corridor and Reading Room which would be limited to the use of the Bar or, at most, shared by the Judges. There should be a Solicitors' Corridor, with suitable consultation rooms which are most desirable for use in the intervals of the sitting of the Courts. There should be a Prisoners' Entrance, and Detention Rooms, whither they could be directly brought for trial, and whence they could reach, by a special route, the steps leading immediately to the Dock, and by which they could also be removed after sentence.
The Judges and the Bar should have equally distinct entrance and exit, from the purlieus of the Courts. The several accessories should be arranged for the particular use of Judge, Bar, Jury, Witnesses and Public, and placed accordingly. We submit that, in respect of some of the above points, the plans, as they stand, are defective and in others deficient.
We are given to understand that the Registrar's Department and the space allotted to the Bailiffs and Interpreters are necessarily placed on the Ground Floor of the Court block and that the area allotted to them cannot be reduced. This being so we can only come to the conclusion, that the area of Plot No. 1 is in- sufficient for the proper housing of the legal offices. A glance at the plan will show that the arrangements are already somewhat congested and that there is no adequate space available for the proper disposition of the necessary rooms as above indicated, and would render any future extensión impossible.
Plot No. 2 is, on the other hand, somewhat sparsely occupied. The handsome western frontage with its double-storied colonnade is for the most part a screen, to small and unimportant offices and the entire centre part of the upper floor, on the north front, is a mere shell to protect from the direct rays of the sun the skylight, which gives a borrowed light to the Entrance Hall of the Post Office. We cannot but regard the interruption of the public footway by the raised portion outside the Delivery Office, as an inconvenience to the public which should be avoided. It will therefore be seen that, while Plot No. 1 appears insufficient for its pur- pose, Plot No. 2 is somewhat in excess of the requirements, and we would suggest for consideration the following schemes:-
Scheme A.-Placing the Courts and their accessories on Plot No. 2 and the Post Office, &c. on Plot No. 1. This would necessitate the raising of a cen- tral portion of the Post Office building an extra storey which could be reached by lifts, and taking into consideration the expensive character of the foundations the further utilisation of the site, in this manner, seems an economical one.
Scheme B.-The Plots Nos. 3 and 4 (on the accompanying sketch), now the property of the Bank, could perhaps be acquired, and, if so, their cost would be less now than after the other available building and space has been occupied.
We would propose that the Sanitary Board and the Department of Public Works should be located on Plot No. 3, the Colonial Secretary and Treasurer on Plot No. 4, the Post Office on Plot No. 1, and the Law Courts, &c. on the ampler Plot No. 2.
This would concentrate the Government Establishment giving sufficient room for each and facilitate their natural intercourse. It would avoid overcrowd- ing which is especially undesirable and probably leave some margin for any exten- sion which may hereafter be found desirable.
Pending some further discussion of the question from these points of view, it is perhaps premature to offer any remarks on the details of the designs, which you have referred to us.
We return herewith the six drawings and the original papers forwarded to us with your letter of July 27th.
We are, &c.,
ASTON WEBB & E. INGRESS BELL.
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