Mr Burns
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: PR Holmes
(B)
Cultural Relations Department
19 August 1991
DATE:
CC:
Mr Cox, HKD
PC290/393/1
HONG KONG: FUTURE CONSULATE-GENERAL
Mr Bertram, OED
20/j
Mr. Kimms 218 then h
a
201
20
1. Your minute of(7) August sought an update of the views of the various potential users of the Consulate-General in Hong Kong.
2. There has been recent correspondence about the British Council's involvement in the Colvin House project. This is succinctly summarised in FCO telegram 1433 of 5 August. "Their first choice would be co-location within the future Consulate-General, but if this was not possible they would be prepared to continue to rent premises on a commercial basis."
The present
3. Hong Kong telegram 2421 of 30 July dispelled many of the British Council's legal worries about their ability to occupy part of Colvin House. However, there is another potential problem concerning rental charges which needs to be taken into account. idea is that funds should be provided by the Treasury as a result of a PES bid based on the principle of co-location, and that the British Council would not be charged a commercial rent. Mr Morris's minute of 26 June to Mr Paul referred to the possibility of the Council being charged rent (likely to be at the Treasury discounted rate) if such funds were not forthcoming.
/4.
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