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Q--Do you inspect in person?
A--Yes.
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Q-How often?
A-Generally every day. Sometimes I am not able to go every day and it is then every other day.
Q-What other work are you doing in addition to that which you have mentioned ?
A-A new floor to the Cattle Sheds at Kennedy Town.
Q-To the Swine Depôt ?
A--Yes, that is it. Now, as to work inside the office, I am preparing designs, specifications, quantities and details for the superstructure of the new Western Market, the new Harbour Office, the new Market at Kowloon, and the Clock Tower to the Blake Pier. I am also about to take up the new Law Courts. As to the Prison at Stonecutters' Island, I am not aware whether part of this work will be commenced next year. I prepared a design for removing the whole Prison to Stonecutters' Island. Q-You may take it that, if there is no provision in the Estimates for a work, it is not to be commenced at once. Do you find you have a full day's work?
A--Undoubtedly.
Q-How many hours a day do you work?
A-From 9 or 9.30 in the morning till generally 6 in the evening, and frequently, I may almost say, every Saturday afternoon, I go round the works, and two Sundays out of four I generally go round the works again.
Q--Do you think there is quite sufficient work for an architect in the Public Works Department?
A-Undoubtedly there is.
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Q-For how many is there sufficient work?
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A-I think for one architect and an architect's assistant.
Q-Could these two officers overtake most of the work of designing? What about tracings?
A-They could be prepared by the staff downstairs.
Q-It has been suggested frequently, both here and at home, that it is a very good thing to call for designs from people outside the Government service.
What is your opinion on that point ?
A-For any special work, competition is undoubtedly a good thing, but then, if you have a fairly good man in the Department, it doesn't seem hardly necessary to get the work done outside.
Q--For instance, it has been suggested that if any large work like the new Post Office or some such building that would lend itself to architectural design were being undertaken, it would be better to get the best talent by inviting competition, and any- one in the service might compete as well as those outside. Do you think that system is better than simply adhering to the Government staff?
A--As I said before, if you have a fully qualified staff, it does't seem worth while to offer premiums to outside people.
Q--I should like you to look at this from an impersonal point of view.
A-Quite so.
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