TNAG-0545-FCO40-640-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 137

CONFT DEVTIAL CONFIDENTIAL

out in Appendix 2. It would be most economically desirable and operationally most satisfactory if Dragon House, a brand new block of quarters completed in 1974. were retained and essential married quarters and other related facilities were reprovided on the site presently occupied by Paget Block).

6. Units and Facilities to Be Relocated Elsewhere.

A list of these, together with

the proposed new locations and estimated costs of reprovision, is given in Appendix }

7. Other Implications Arising Out of the Relocation of Units:

a. Owing to the importance of achieving the move out from Victoria Barracks in the timescale required, the present plans for relocation of the Garrison will require fresh consideration, as a result of which further consequential repro- vision, at present unforeseen, may be necessary.

b.

The eventual colocation of HQ British Forces and the staff of Captain-in- Charge Hong Kong will inevitably lead to some further manpower economies, es- pecially in the field of local administrative support.

C. Under terms of previous agreements, the Hong Kong Government is obliged, in certain circumstances to compensate HMG for the value of the buildings and faci- lities on land released to the Hong Kong Government, unless these buildings and facilities are reprovided. This may make payment necessary in relation to some buildings in Victoria Barracks.

THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE

8.

9.

HMS TAMAR.

&.

A building adequate to house the future HQ British Forces and essential supporting elements can only be built most economically on the site of the presen "D" Block, which will first have to be demolished. This, in turn, will require the resiting of the technical and storage facilities, now in "D" Block, and can most conveniently be done mainly on the east side of the basin. This reprovision should be the first step in the construction phase and must be completed before the demolition of "D" Block can begin.

b. A move of the technical and storage facilities from the west to the east side of the basin will require the complete redevelopment of the east side; as space there would not allow the "D" Block facilities to be superimposed on those already in situ.

Close to HMS TAMAR. The facilities required in this category are set out in Appendix 2, and, represent a reduction on the facilities already in Victoria Barracks to a scale appropriate to the future occupants of HMS TAYAR. It will, however, be necessary for these facilities to be provided, either as part of the Victoria rede- ployment plan, or, alternatively, under some other plan devised by the Hong Kong Gov- ernment, to a programme timed to be complete by not later than 31 March 1979.

The re-

10. Elsewhere. The facilities to be reprovided elsewhere than close to or in HMS TAMAR are set out in Appendix 3. As in the case of the facilities to be provided close to HMS TAMAR (paragraph 9 above), it will be necessary for the provision pro- gramme for these clements to be timed so as to be complete by 31 March 1979. provision of this category of requirement will be made on land already held by Service authorities.

11.

Main Stages. Owing to the need for the future HQ British Forces and the Hong

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