Sessional_Paper_1917 — Page 129

No. 3.

125

HONGKONG.

No. 1817

20

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

PUBLIC

OF THE

WORKS

COMMITTEE

at a Meeting held on the 7th June, 1917.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer

Administering the Government, 29th November, 1917.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM, C.M.G.), Chairman.

the Colonial Treasurer, (EDWARD DUDLEY CORSCADEN WOLFE).

RA

Mr. WEI YUK, C.M.G.

Mr. ROBERT GORDON SHEWAN.

Mr. STANLEY HUDSON DODWELL.

5)

Offices for Imports and Exports Department.-(C.S.O. 1000/1915.)

The Chairman laid before the Committee preliminary drawings for permanent offices for the Imports and Exports Department, to be erected on the land at present occupied by the temporary offices to the south and east of the Harbour Office. The drawings showed that it was proposed to erect a 4-storied building, about 141' 0" by 51' 0", front- ing on Des Voeux Road and a 3-storied building, about 50′ 0' by 45' 0", fronting on Connaught Road, the latter forming an extension of the existing Harbour Office building. The scheme also involved the demolition of the existing boatmen's quarters, etc., in connection with the Harbour Office and the erection of a new block of subsidiary build- ings in the compound which would be enclosed by the Harbour Office and the proposed Imports and Exports Offices.

The whole of the 3-storied building, fronting on Connaught Road, and three floors of the 4-storied building, fronting on Des Voeux Road, would afford the accommodation specified by the Superintendent of the Imports and Exports Department, but, in the case of the latter building, a fourth storey had been added to provide for future requirements. Meanwhile, the rooms on the fourth storey would be unallocated and could doubtless be let.

In addition to office accommodation, the buildings, as allocated, contained three sets of quarters for European Revenue Officers. The native staff would be housed partly in the subsidiary building previously mentioned and partly in a low building which would be erected on the roof of the 4-storied building.

The cost of the entire scheme was estimated roughly at $345,000.

The Committee unanimously approved of the scheme submitted and recommended that the buildings should be so constructed as to be capable of being increased to five stories in height and should have concrete floors throughout.

W. CHATHAM,

Chairman.

Laid before the Legislative Council this 29th day of November, 1917.

E. BULLOCK,

Clerk of Councils.