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estate problem in Hong Kong is a major one on which I am minuting separately. I see no case for a planned purchase programme at this stage for residential accommodation for the post 1997 period but the capital cost of suitable office accommodation for the future Consulate-General must be put at at least £10 million, though this might be converted to a comparable rental figure if necessary.
We should not lightly abandon the possibility of securing some financially advantageous arrangement with the Hong Kong Government over the next 5 years. In Jakarta we should move from the present Residence, which is unsatisfactory, without avoidable delay. The only question is whether we should have one last try to secure a site in the best district of Menteng or whether financial limitations should force us to bid for a site
I have asked in Kuningam which may be available in 6 months time. Mr Gathercole (OED) who was visiting Jakarta at the same time to look at our forward programme for capital works as a basis for decision. The new Residence in Kuala Lumpur seems to me likely to be a splendid modern building on too small a plot. The High Commissioner accepts that he must move there as soon as it is ready. . The market is very depressed in Kuala Lumpur at present and there can be no question of our selling land at the present prices prevailing. If it picks up we should sell first the consular site, thereafter the present (temporary) Residence. Bahrain I was impressed by the arguments advanced for moving the staff from Jufair if this can be done, as seems likely, with no nett cost.
British Council
In
6. A striking feature of the region was the very large and effective British Council presence in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Singapore (where a splendid new building is under
construction on the High Commission site). Relations between the Council and High Commission/Embassy/Trade Commission were in all cases excellent. We talked frankly about the London-centred problems of Government funding for the British Council and the Representatives with whom I spoke showed a much keener understanding of the need to work in harmony with the FCO rather than at cross purposes than is sometimes the case in Whitehall.
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W R Tomkys