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12. I AM SURPRISED BY THE PROPOSAL THAT THE BRITISH TAXPAYER SHALL FINANCE THE BUILDING OF A THEATRE IN HONG KONG AND AM STILL SEARCHING FOR THE TRUE COST (? GBP.5 MILLION) AND RATIONALE. DID WE NOT LEARN FROM THE SOUTH BANK AND BARBICAN? THE RUNNING COSTS, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF STAFF TIME, WILL BE ENORMOUS AND THE UTILITY TO THE OVERALL BRITISH EFFORTS MARGINAL.
13. THE COUNCIL OPERATION IS OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE, IN SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG TERM. BUT THEY SHOULD BE OUT AND ABOUT, GIVING PRIORITY TO HIGHER EDUCATION, KNOWN THROUGH THE AREA. THERE ARE MANY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES IN HONG KONG AND NEIGHBOURHOODS. TO BUILD A THEATRE OF THIS SIZE INSIDE THE NEW CG WOULD, IN MY VIEW, BE TO CREATE AN EXPENSIVE ALBATROSS AND GIVE THE WRONG MESSAGE TO CHINESE AND BRITISH ALIKE.
STAFF
14. THE MAINTENANCE OF STAFF MORALE WILL BE PRE-OCCUPATION POST 1997 WHEN THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A MORE ALIEN ATMOSPHERE AND LOWER SECURITY. MOST OF THE UK BASED WILL BE JUNIOR, SOME FROM THE HOME OFFICE, THEY - AND MORE SO THEIR WIVES LESS ACCUSTOMED TO SUCH
AN ENVIRONMENT.
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15. WILL THE POOL/SMALL GARDEN REALLY BE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) ALL STAFF (AS IN BRIEF) OR AS I IMAGINE ONLY THE 9 RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES? SURELY IT IS TOO SMALL A SITE FOR THE 300 PLUS STAFF?
16. THERE SHOULD BE PROVISION FOR THE PURCHASE, BUILDING OR (IF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MAKE ONE AVAILABLE) A RE-FURBISHING OF A BEACH/RURAL COTTAGE SUCH AS THE GOVERNMENT, SERVICES AND MOST COMPANIES MAINTAIN. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE BOTH ESSENTIAL AND COST- EFFECTIVE. IF 10 UK-BASED STAFF IN A HOLIDAY DESTINATION SUCH AS TUNIS MERIT A NEW CLUB FACILITY, THE SIX-TIMES LARGER TEAM HERE WILL CERTAINLY NEED ONE.
17. SHOULD SOME ACCOMMODATION BE FOR SHORT-TERM UNACCOMPANIED POSTINGS (I.E. AS NOW).
CONSUL-GENERAL'S HOUSE
18. AFTER THE MAIN BUILDING, THIS SHOULD BE OUR TOP PRIORITY, NOT LEAST IN MOVING TOWARDS A RATIONAL ESTATE PACKAGE. IN MY TEN YEAR'S EXPERIENCE AS HEAD OF POST THIS IS WHERE THE HIGH-LEVEL
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