PS/Mr Blaker
RESTRICTED
HKK 2014
VED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
12 JANT81
DESK OFFICER
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
DEMOLITION OF THE HONG KONG CLUB 72 at
AN 13
MP'S LETTER:
INDEX HỌNG KONG
WRONG
Problem
HKCK 294/1
(980)
1.
Lord Rawlinson wrote to Mr Blaker on 22 December 1980 about
the proposed demolition of the Hong Kong Club expressing the hope that
it would not be demolished without the appropriate enquiry.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that Mr Blaker reply on the lines of the attached draft.
Background and Argument
3. The Hong Kong Club was built at the end of the last century and is
a Hong Kong land mark. However its maintenance has become increasingly
expensive and is no longer economic. After much wrangling, its members
decided to redevelop the site. This has met with strong opposition from
a minority of members of the Club and conservationists in Hong Kong.
4. Given the members' majority decision, the only way the building
could have been preserved was by it being declared a monument under the
This the Governor declined to do on
Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance.
the advice of the Executive Council
ONCK 294/1 1980
the details;
ExCo memorandum XCR (80)205 gives
the main argument being that to do so would cost the public
purse around £40 million.
5. Since the proper procedures have been gone through in Hong Kong,
it would not be appropriate for the Minister to intervene in this matter.
6. Lord Rawlinson refers to an earlier letter to Mr Heseltine.
did not reach us.
Дир
This
2 January 1981
R D Clift
Hong Kong & General Department
RESTRICTED
MARS.2/1.