18 JUN
*93
09:07 DTI>0T2/2A+2C+2D+2E.
To
1
Mr Murray
CC
2
PS/Minister for Trade
From
Miss J M Gray
XAAA2d
215 5273
June 1993
P.3/4
PS/President
Mr Roberts
Mr Baker
Mr Love
Ms Teare
Mr Lawrence
Lady Strathnaver
ted these
amendments in to Jear Queg 21/6465
BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG
Issue
How to reply to the letter from Lord Prior about housing the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong within the new British Consulate General when this is completed in 1996.
Recommendation
That the Minister reply along the lines of the attached draft.
Timing
Routine.
Background
Lord Prior has written to support the efforts of the Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, who is the local GEC representative) to lobby for rent-free space for the Chamber in the new British Consulate General building in Hong Kong.
As has already been conveyed to James Chiu, the FCO view which we share, is that while they would like to see a strong proactive Chamber co-located in the new BCG building when it is completed, there is no reason why the Chamber should not pay a fair rent for that accommodation.
Lord Prior raised the issue when he saw Mr Goodlad last week on another matter when he maintained that the Chamber had previously been promised free accommodation. Mr Goodlad Kas agreed to look into this. However The FCO ha told us that no formal offer of free accommodation has ever been made.
JEAN GRAY
·now