XN000022-1997-01-15 — Page 28

- 15.

New office for HKSAR Chief Executive-designate

Following is a question by the Hon Li Wah-ming and a reply by the Secretary for the Treasury, Mr K C Kwong in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is reported that the arrangement made by the Government in providing a new office for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive-designate at Edinburgh Tower in the Landmark has been widely criticised, and the Chief Executive-designate has indicated openly that the location of the office premises picked by the Government is not suitable. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

of the criteria adopted in selecting the office premises for the Chief Executive-designate;

whether it has consulted the Chief Executive-designate before deciding on the location of the office premises mentioned above; if not, why not;

whether it has signed the lease for renting the above office premises; if so, what the monthly rent is; and

of the amount of public (including payment of rent, deposit and other expenses) which will be wasted in the above office site selection exercise, as the Chief Executive-designate has not accepted the office premises in question.

First of all, let me say that any criticism of the offer to the Chief Executive (Designate) of the office in the Edinburgh Tower is somewhat misplaced; furthermore although he may not have found these premises suitable, we have readily been able to accommodate him to his satisfaction in other offices that we have identified.

I nevertheless welcome this opportunity to set the record straight on this issue in a number of respects.