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The Executive Council advised the erection of a three-storied building on the present site of the G. P. O. and Law Courts to accommodate a new G. P. O., Treasury, Local Auditor's Office, Kegistrar General's Office, Education Depart- ment and Sanitary Board Office, and that competitive designs be invited locally. Thereupon the Director of l'ublic Works formulated particulars and conditions and suggested raising the estimate to $175,000. The matter, however, remained in abeyance owing to the impossibility of finding temporary accommodation and until the new Supreme Court came to be completed.

20th March, 1899. (C.S.O. 3812/98.)

6th October, 1899.

(C.S.D. 2921/01.)

17th October, 1901.

9th January, 1902.

In September, 1901, the matter took a fresh start when the Colonial Secretary 27th September, 1891. (Mr. STEWART LOCKHART) proposed the reclamation in front of Messrs. JARDINE, MATHESON & Co., on the Praya, as a site. The Director of Public Works was all in favour of this site as being the most convenient position possible, near present building so still central, and near the principal landing place. The new proposal came before Executive Council on 17th October, 1901, and it advised submitting the matter to the Secretary of State. This course was followed on 9th January, 1992, in a despatch No. 9 which reviewed the intricate history of the question which first came up in 1894, explained the many advantages of the proposed Praya site over all others, which advantages were held to fully compensate the Government for the additional cost involved. A telegraphic reply was asked for as Messrs. JARDINE, MATHESON & Co. were only willing to allow the Government the refusal of the offer of the land for two months. It was suggested that Sir H. A. BLAKE be consulted.

15th February, 1902.

On this date the Secretary of State telegraphed approval, and on the 22nd February, the Officer Administering the Government proposed to take over the 22nd February, 1902. land forthwith and to invite competitive designs locally as the staff of the Public Works Department was not sufficient to undertake the work and as delay ought to be avoided.

.offer.

The Secretary of State replied that this might be done.

The Government by letter formally accepted Messrs. JARDINE, MATHESON'S

Steps are now being taken to settle definitely the exact amount of accom- modation required by the various offices to be housed in the building to be erected, and the Director of Public Works is preparing the necessary notices inviting com- petitive designs.

4th April, 1902.

M. J. D.

23rd March, 1902.

27th March, 1902.

No. 9.

SIR,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 9th January, 1902.

I have the honour to inform you that, for some time past, this Government has had under its consideration a new scheme in connection with the proposed new Post Office, and as the scheme has now been fully matured, I have to submit it for your consideration.

2. The proposal which has hitherto been kept in view, but in connection with which no action has been taken, is that the new Post Office should be built on the site of the present Law Courts. The new proposal, which appears to me to have many advantages over the old, is to erect the Post Office on the reclamation in front of the Offices of Messrs. JARDINE, MATHESON AND COMPANY. This will ne- cessitate the purchase of an expensive site, but, on the other hand, the Government will have as an asset the valuable site upon which the present Post Office and Law Courts now stand.