TNAG-0546-FCO40-641-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 199

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3 -

XCS(75)6

Report of Joint Working Party

5

D

The Report of the Working Party referred to in paragraph 3(c) is at Annex D. It is addressed to the Governor and the Minister (not attached of Defence. Copies have accordingly been despatched to the Ministry as this

of Defence for consideration and to the FCO and the Governor. The report concludes that:

Was

sent to you

earlier)

(a) the reprovisioning of the essential facilities of RAF, Kai Tak, at Sek Kong and elsewhere can be achieved by 31st March 1978, at a cost of about HK$55 million at September 1975 prices if -

(b)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

a decision to go ahead with the project is reached by 1st January 1976;

Regional HQ, PSA Hong Kong and the Services have the authority to process the works services requirements in Hong Kong, and

the buildings and facilities are available for use by mid-February 1978;

the reprovisioning of the essential facilities of Victoria Barracks in HMS Tamar and elsewhere can be achieved by 31st March 1979 at a cost of about HK$120 million at September 1975 prices if:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

a decision to go ahead with the project is reached by 1st January 1976;

adequate authority is delegated by HM Govern- .ment Departments to HQBF and PSA Hong Kong; the detailed brief for the internal fitting out of the Headquarters building is completed, approved and in the hands of the Hong Kong Principal Government Architect by 1st September 1976; (iv) the necessary buildings are occupied by 31st Te

March 1979, Public Works Department Hong Kong are able to construct and fit out the necessary buildings so that they

so that they can be occupied by

31st March 1979

(c) if the RAF, Kai Tak (except for 8 acres required for

RHKAAF) and Victoria Barracks (except for the areas of Flagstaff House and a site of about 2.7 acres re- quired to house personnel essential to HMS Tamar) are vacated and returned to the Government of Hong Kong, a rough estimate of the financial return which the Government of Hong Kong may receive (on the basis of an outline plan hastily prepared) from the disposal of parts of these areas indicates that the eventual return to the Hong Kong Government will substantially exceed the cost of reprovisioning the essential facilities.

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