146
075775
MDHIAN 8939
RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F CO
TELNO 298
OF 241035Z OCTOBER 91
RESTRICTED
MKC 406
TOP COPY Q DIST?
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKIN
YOUR TELNO 200 AND MY TELNO 286: FUTURE CONSULATE GENERAL
BRITISH COUNCIL COLLOCATION
1.
SMITH-LAITTAN CHAIRED A MEETING ON 18 OCTOBER AT WHICH JLG, BRITISH COUNCIL, HKG SECURITY BRANCH AND HONG KONG POLICE (TRAFFIC) WERE REPRESENTED.
2.
ON THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF COLLOCATION, IT WAS AGREED THAT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE GENERALLY IN THE AREA. TRANSPORTATION WAS NOT EXPECTED TO PRESENT A PROBLEM. THE MTR STATION ADJACENT TO PACIFIC PLACE IS THE BIGGEST IN HONG KONG. ALSO THE COVERED ESCALATOR FROM PACIFIC PLACE TO SUPREME COURT ROAD WILL MAKE THE SIT E MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN THE COUNCIL'S PRESENT LOCATION, PARTICULARLY IF THE ENTRANCE TO THE COUNCIL WAS FROM SUPREME COURT ROAD. IT WAS ALSO THOUGH THAT THE NUMBERS ENVISAGED COULD BE ABSORBED IN THE PACIFIC PLACE COMPLEX UNNOTICED. SWIRES ARE UNLIKELY TO OBJECT TO AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VISITORS (POTENTIAL SHOPPERS).
3.
WHEN THE PERSONAL AND PHYSICAL SECURITY ASPECTS OF COLLOCATION WERE DISCUSSED IT WAS AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE TO HAVE TWO COMPLETELY DISTINCT AREAS OF OPERATION ON THE SITE, ONE FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE OTHER FOR THE CONSULATE- GENERAL PROPER. WHETHER THIS WERE ACHIEVED BY BUILDING TWO BUILDINGS OR TWO TOWERS ON A PODIUM WITH COMMON SERVICES, OR A TERRACED STRUCTURE ON THE SLOPING SITE WOULD PROBABLY HINGE MORE ON THE AESTHETICS THAN ON SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS. IT WAS ALSO CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO HAVE DISTINCT STAFF/VIP (PROTECTED) PARKING AND PUBLIC AREAS PLUS A DROP-OFF, PICK-UP POINT.
4.
ON POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THE THREAT OF DEMONSTRATIONS (PARA 3 OF TUR), THE MEETING THOUGH THAT THE BEST WAY TO MINIMISE THESE RISKS WOULD BE TO HAVE TWO DISTINCT AREAS WITHIN THE SITE EACH WITH SEPARATE ENTRANCES/EXITS. MY OWN COMMENT ON THIS IS THAT I DOUBT THE PRESENCE OF BRITISH COUNCIL LANGUAGE STUDENTS ON
1
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