Reference
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Sound good.
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(and would for the ch mister! with for a brinity promeritual event?)
If the Pocmonst
thair.com make a commit whm from revenue,
cannot
Wing te BC (which gorantes cms dendoly more)?
It is my
design scheme and report until the end of April. understanding that planning permission will not be sought until this time and that it will take at least four weeks, and perhaps double that time if minor amendments are required before agreement is given. Presentationally, it would be tidier to have planning permission before making a public announcement although this need not hold up a briefing to the Governor. Swires suggested that we might want to commission a detailed model at this stage for public presentation. OED are keen to do this and have funds. They now tell me they are ordering two, one to be kept in London and one in Hong Kong. It will take about 6 weeks for the models to be produced.
4.
Given that the timing of Mr Needham's visit to Hong Kong is not ideal I suggest considering a presentation by Farrells for the Governor when Mr Goodlad is visiting at the end of May. OED say this would fit well. We could consider nearer the time whether to give a public briefing of some kind too. Grateful to know your views.
5.
British Council Contribution to cost overrun. Mr Buchanan told the LCC that the British Council could not contemplate paying any kind of rent as a contribution to cost overrun on the new building. They have however identified space saving. The space they vacate, which would be on the lower levels of their side of the building, could be used to house the Procurement Unit.
6.
This side-steps the question of principle (which the MRS and RMD are chewing over) of whether the British Council should be expected to make a contribution to the new building and particularly to the cost overrun, which goes beyond that of running costs. (I made these points at the LCC). Members of the LCC were attracted by the idea of including the Procurement Unit within the new building. OED believe that it would work quite well; they would be able to set up shop separately from the public areas of the British Council. There was some discussion of how their presence there would be indicated without diminishing the impact of the British Council. This was unresolved, but the Procurement Unit representative thought that there would be no more than six or so visitors a day and he was not too concerned about this aspect. I gather from other discussions outside the local Coordinating Committee that local staff at the Procurement Unit have been upset to learn via the grapevine first that they would be included in the new building (which was welcomed) then that they would not (which did nothing for morale). The Procurement Unit, incidentally, is a revenue generating organisation - helpful in meeting running costs. Introducing an alien element into the British Council building will complicate the division of running costs, but nobody saw this as an obstacle.
7.
min.publicity.NAT
JEB
OED tell me they will include the British Council offer in
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