to have another look.
CONFIDENTIAL
4. Mr Cox argued that we should not give up completely on
Victoria House. He felt that the Hong Kong Government could
well afford to give us Victoria House as well as the Colvin
House site and that the likely local opposition to this idea
might have been exaggerated. Governments of former
dependent territories often gave the British Government good
properties when they became independent. He therefore
suggested that we brief the Governor-designate on the case
for Victoria House. Mr Cox added that if we decided to go for Victoria House it might be better to move in as soon as
possible in order to minimise any reaction. One way in which this could be achieved was by exchanging the Albany
apartment for Victoria House when the present Chief Secretary retires.
5. In conclusion Mr Hum said that we should brief the
Governor-designate about the problems over the future
Consul-General's residence and put to him the question of
Victoria House. We should also reply to the Governor's
recent suggestion of a package deal for Headquarters House,
involving the handing over of surplus GCHQ flats to the Hong
Kong Government who would build a new house for the
Commander of the Chinese PLA, to the effect that we were
grateful for his proposals but that we were not in favour of
pursuing this building for the reasons given by Mr
Galsworthy. Mr Hum asked Hong Kong Department to prepare
these two drafts for him.
Hong Kong Department
22 June 1992
JH4ABF/2
19/06/92
sent to Mr Bertram
28 22/6.