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Section 1 Introduction.
Scope.
1. This briefing document is for the design of the building (or buildings ) that will
accommodate the British Consulate - General in Hong Kong after the sovereignty of Hong Kong reverts to China on 1 July 1997.
Background.
2. Hong Kong Island has been a British Colony since the treaty of Nanking in 1842, and the Kowloon penisula was added under the Convention of Peking in 1860. The New Territories was leased to Britain for 99 years by a further Convention in 1898 : they comprise over 90% of the land area of Hong Kong. As the expirary of this lease approached, her Majesty's Government (HMG) and the Hong Kong Government (HKG) began in the early 1980s to consider the administration of Hong Kong after 1997. In consequence, direct Sino - British negotiations on the future of Hong Kong began in 1982, and concluded with the signing of the Joint Declaration [JD] by the two governments in Peking on 19 December 1984. At an early stage in the negotiations it had become clear thet there was no prospect of a
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renewal of the lease of the pew Territories (without which Hong Kong would not be viable) and the Chinese were opposed to a continuation of British administration of any part of the Territory.
3. Under the terms of the JD, British sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hong Kong will continue until 30 June 1997, and Hong Kong will, from 1 July 1997 become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China. The JD also provides that, for fifty years after 1997, Hong Kong's lifestyle will remain unchanged and China's Socialist system and policies will not be practiced in the HKSAR. Although China will be responsible for Hong Kong's foreign affairs and defence, the HKSAR will have its own government and X legislation composed of local inhabitants, and
will enjoy a high degree of autonomy.
4. Britain's relationship with Hong Kong will therefore be transformed in 1997 from one of responsibility for Hong Kong's administration to that of an interested foreign power with a considerable stake in Hong Kong's continued stability and prosperity.
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way that official British interests (e.g. the British Trade Commission, the British Council) are represented and accommodated in Hong Kong will change accordingly and, in common with other foreign governments, HMG will additionally require after 1997 Consular representation in the HKSAR, HMG have concluded that the most effective way of serving and promoting all these British interests in the HKSAR will be to co - locate them physically in the new development on a single new site. For this purpose, HKG, acting with the Chinese government through the Sino - British Land Commission, have granted IIMG by private treaty the site at present occupied by Colvin House.
The Site.
5. The site (location and site plans are on pages 4 and 5) is at present steeply sloping, largely wooded and of about 6,000m2 : all existing structures in it will be demolished. (Two of the trees on the site are covered by preservation orders.Vehicular access will be from.......
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