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On the whole therefore we think that HMS Tamar would not be suitable for the Consulate-General.
5
I would be grateful if in the next few months you could consider whether there are any other buildings or sites in the possession of the Hong Kong Government or the PSA/MOD in Hong Kong which might be suitable for Consulate-General offices and residential accommodation and which are less likely than HMS Tamar to be considered by the Chinese to be residual symbols of imperialism. Overseas Estate Department here would be responsible for the eventual acceptance fo any property and they should be involved in evaluating specific properties as any can be identified.
6
Some thought has been given to the size of the future Consulate-General. I enclose a list of the establishment as currently proposed. At this stage the suggested establishment is our best estimate, drawn up in consultation with the FCO departments concerned and based on their experience of the work which the Consulate-General is likely to have to do. The numbers involved, especially those for LE staff, are very large but we think that they will be justified, particularly in the areas of consular, immigration and administration. The figures are useful for planning purposes but please feel free to comment on them if you feel that they are wide of the mark.
7
It is difficult to be specific about the floor measurements of the office, but, using the suggested establishment as a guide, the accommodation we are likely to need might be as follows:
a)
b)
Consulate-General with office space for about 150 staff. We envisage a building with floor space of about 2,000-3,000 m2, in a good commercial location. We would prefer sole occupancy, but given the high-rise nature of buildings in Hong Kong we realise that this may not be possible.
Residential accommodation for a Senior Grade Consul-General and a staff of (possibly) 2 Counsellors, 12 First Secretaries, 6 Second/Third Secretaries and 15 junior staff. The Second/Third. Secretaries and junior staff might be housed in groups in blocks of flats.
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