Sessional_Paper_1919 — Page 39

No. 2.

35

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

PUBLIC

OF THE

WORKS

COMMITTEE

at a Meeting held on the 10th April, 1919.

No. 1919

5

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, 5th June, 1919.

PRESENT:

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

the Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER, O.B.E.).

Mr. PERCY HOBSON HOLYOAK.

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12

Mr. Ho Fook.

Mr. STANLEY HUDSON DODWELL.

Proposal to erect Quarters on Leighton Hill for the Junior European Officers of the Civil Service.-(C.S.O. 2923/1918.)

The Chairman informed the Committee that the Government proposed to erect two blocks of quarters on Leighton Hill, each containing four 5-roomed houses, or 8 houses in all. The buildings would be two-storied, the floors of the upper storey being con- structed of reinforced concrete and any roof principals required being of steel. All possible measures were to be adopted in connection with the construction of the build- ings with a view to reducing the cost of maintenance as far as possible.

As the Staff of the Public Works Department was already fully occupied with other buildings, the design and construction of the quarters under consideration had been entrusted to Messrs. DENISON, RAM & GIBBS, whose plans were submitted. Messrs. DENISON, RAM & GIBBS had been requested to furnish an estimate of the cost of the buildings, including their commission and all other charges, and had replied as follows:-

"We have gone into the question of the cost of the two blocks including forming the site, approach roads, paths, etc., etc., as well as our commission, " and believe that it will amount to $240,000 but the fluctuating prices of "materials and workmanship make pricing very difficult at the present time."

The Committee approved of the proposal and of the plans generally, but considered that the estimate, which amounted to $30,000 per house, was unduly high. They requested that tenders might be invited and that they should be referred to them for consideration.

Laid before the Legislative Council this 5th day of June, 1919.

A. D. BALL,

Clerk of Councils.

W. CHATHAM,

Chairman.