CONFIDENTIAL
2471
99
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
布政司署 BY BAG
香港下亞畢道
HKK 243
*** OUR REF.: SCR 45/64 II
來函檔號 YOUR REF.:
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 12 JUN 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
J THOMPSON ESQ MBE
HONG KONG & GENERAL DEPARTMENT
F CO
2 June 1978
паль
-Par auf.
التعليمية
ва
alb
Dear John,
VIETNAMESE PURCHASING MISSION IN HONG KONG
91
We reported (para 3 of our telno 648 of 22 May) that the Vietnamese have been asked to move their purchasing mission out of the Bank of China. We have now learnt that they have been given a dead- line of 25 June for the move and that they have already found new accommodation. They have bought the 14th to 17th floors (about 81 thousand sq. ft. in Consolidated Towers, a large new block at 20-26 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, for a price of HK$3.2 million which included naming rights. We have heard that they are considering exercising their naming rights and re-naming the building either Golden Star House or Vietnam Finance Building. The Head of the purchasing mission, PHAM Hong Quang, has directed that the new premises should be decorated in a suitably prestigeous representional style. Whatever the offices look like or are called we shall, of course, continue to treat the occupants as businessmen.
2.
We expect the Vietnamese to concentrate their commercial interests in these new premises, including the Golden Star Shipping Company and the Vietnam Finance Company Ltd. The latter was established locally in February with a paid-up share capital of HK$5 million (the major shareholders are Golden Star Shipping Company and the Vietnam Import/Export Company).
3.
Although the move is the result of a Chinese request, it no doubt suits the Vietnamese in their efforts to build up their commercial presence in Hong Kong, even if they have to spend more on overheads.
CONFIDENTIAL
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