CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
464
CONFIDENTIAL
MKC 062
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
29 SEP 1987
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3575
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
OF 22122OZ SEPTEMBER 87
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
105171
MDHIAN 4020
JLG VII : FOLLOW-UP: DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER : CHINA FLEET CLUB
-
WE HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED BY CAPTAIN IN CHARGE (TAMAR) (CAPIC)
THAT YESTERDAY THE CHINA FLEET CLUB (CFC) PUT OUT A TENDER FOR SALE
OF THE CLUB'S PROPERTY WHICH CONSISTS OF THE CHINA FLEET CLUB BUILDING. THE CLUB OWNS THE
LOWER FLOORS WHILE THE 9TH
COMMERCIAL PREMISES FOR WHICH THE HONG KONG LAND HAS BENEFICIAL USE
UNTIL 2015 UNDER AGREEMENT ENTERED BETWEEN HONG KONG LAND AND CFC.
THE CAPITAL FUNDS REALISED IN THE SALE WILL BE USED TO FINANCE
PROJECTS AND FACILITIES IN THE UK FOR USE OF SAILORS OF THE ROYAL
NAVY (AS MEMBERS OF THE CLUB).
WHOLE BUILDING BUT ONLY OCCUPIES THE
26TH FLOORS OF THE BUILDING ARE
2.
DESPITE THE CLOSE LINKS BETWEEN THE CLUB AND THE ROYAL NAVY IN HONG KONG (CAPIC IS THE EX-OFFICIO SENIOR TRUSTEE OF THE CLUB), THE FORMER IS LEGALLY A PRIVATELY OWNED AND RUN CLUB WHICH CAN DECIDE, ON ITS OWN, HOW TO DISPOSE OF ITS ASSETS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A RISK THAT THE PUBLIC, AND POSSIBLY THE CHINESE, MAY PERCEIVE THE CLUB'S DECISION AS A MOVE CONNECTED WITH THE RUN DOWN OF THE
GARRISON. IT IS ALSO CONCEIVABLE THAT THERE MAY BE SOME UNHELPFUL
REPORTERS QUERYING THE PROPRIETY OF WHAT THEY REGARD AS A MOVE BY
THE GARRISON TO DISPOSE OF ITS ASSETS PRIOR TO 1997.
3. AS THE CHINESE MAY WELL PICK THIS UP AND RAISE IT DURING THE DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER EXPERT TALKS, WE WILL INCLUDE IN THE DEFENSIVE Q AND A BRIEF, WHICH WE WILL TELEGRAPH TO YOU LATER. PEKING MAY MEANWHILE WISH TO DRAW ON PARA 2 ABOVE IF THE CHINESE
RAISE IT.
WILSON
YYYY
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL