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compensation at a depreciated rate. Various other points were touched on during discussion of problems with the Hong Kong draft of SC14 chiefly:
(The
(1) notice of expropriation (OED thought 12 months
inadequate; 36 would be ideal with 24 as a fall-back).
(2) The formulation defining the scope of expropriation. question was whether to go along with the Hong Kong version referring to government power to expropriate "all or any part of the lot").
3. Mr Hum invited the Committee to consider whether we should
take further action with the Hong Kong Government to secure
better terms under the PTG. The Committee agreed that Hong
Kong Department should submit the problem to Ministers, recommending that we enlist the aid of the Constitutional
Affairs Branch to secure better terms for compensation in the
event of expropriation than the Hong Kong Government have so
far offered. The Committee concluded that we should be
prepared to involve the Governor if that were necessary to
secure an acceptable result. [ACTION: Ministers have now approved an alternative text of SC14 which HKD are
putting to the Constitutional Affairs Branch in Hong Kong].
BUILDING ESTIMATES
The
4. Mr Bertram (OED) then explained the estimated building
costs of the new Consulate General. The first detailed and
reliable estimate of the current design at preliminery sketch
plan stage had recently been completed. It showed a substantial increase over the original PES budget figure. increase was due in part to the recent devaluation of sterling and in part to necessary design changes and an increase in the scope of the building since its inception. These alterations had resulted in an extra construction cost of some £4 million.
He outlined three options for meeting or reducing these extra
costs. The first option was to ask the Treasury for
fut.cons.NAT
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