''Our policy is to recruit those who are most suitable for the job.

''We are very happy with the quality of local architects and we think it's a good thing to support the locals.'' Mr Razack's comments followed protests from local architects, who said public utility companies favoured foreign firms.

The president of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Dennis Lau Wing-kwong, said foreign firms had been awarded most of the major contracts.

''It is totally out of proportion when one considers that most firms here are local ones,'' he said.

Mr Lau has sent a letter to nine major public utility companies.

Besides the LDC, these included the Mass Transit Railway Corporation and the Housing Authority.

The letter said local architects were in no way inferior to those from overseas.

Mr Lau doubted whether overseas architects had shown enough commitment to win important local contracts.