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112 and 124/8.—ARTHUR HENRY OUGH sworn :-
The Chairman.-What is your occupation?
A.-Civil Engineer, Architect and Surveyor.
Q. You are a partner in the firm of Leigh and Orange?
A. Yes.
Mr. Shelton Hooper.-What qualifications have you as a Civil Engineer ?
A.-I am an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. I am an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, by examination.
These are iny principal qualifications.
Q. How many years have you been connected with architecture and engineering in Hongkong, from the first?
A. In the matter of time, about nine years, but beginning in 188s. I arrived here in 1888.
Q-And you were in the Colony-
A. For three years.
Q-And then-
A. I was then practising on my own account in the City of London for ten years. I returned here as a partner in the firm in 1901, and have been here since.
Q-You are well acquainted with the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance of Hongkong?
A. Yes.
QI think your firm was one of the four firms who were employed,-engaged by the European landowners, to report on and criticise the Public Health and Buildings Bill, of which this Ordinance is the outcome?
A. No. 1 of 1903.-Yes, I acted as Secretary to that conference throughout.
Q.-You made many suggestions which you considered would be improvements in the Bill, before it became law?
A. Yes, personally I had a little to say, but the report was the result of deliber- ations of the whole of the four firnis.
Q.-Now, I am going to put the questions to you. Do you think the amalgamation of the Building Authority and Sanitary Board would be conducive to better administration of the Ordinance ?
A. Yes, the passing of plans submitted to Local Authority at home is usually carried out on the following lines. A meeting of the Local Authority is held at stated times on fixed dates at regular intervals, which are known to the Architects. Plans to be considered at any particular meeting have to be deposited by a certain fixed time before such meeting of three days to one week. (1) Any plans that conform to the regulations, (that is to say, plans that conform to all regulations), are so marked by the Surveyor to the Authority, and prepared for signature by the Chairman. (2) Other plans are prepared for submission as to legal, sanitary or special points, and discussed at the meeting, when the officials concerned are present. In most cases, a decision is come to at the time, and plans passed
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