TNAG-1154-FCO40-1434-Visits-by-Members-of-Parliament-(MPs)-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 193

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APPENDICES TO THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE

APPENDIX 1

ACCOMMODATION POLICY IN NICOSIA (D.5)

Memorandum by the British High Commission, Nicosia

1. The total local expenditure of the British High Commission in Nicosia in 1974-75 was £stg 339,742 against £stg 201,394 in 1971–72.

2. HMG owns the same properties as in 1972, but the usage has changed in

one case:

(i) Shakespeare Avenue Residence (6 acres)-See para 3 below (ii) 6 Philhellinon Street (acre)—High Commissioner's Residence (iii) 7 Saripolis Street ( acre)-6 flats for junior staff

(iv) 11 Saripolis Street (acre)-house for First Secretary Commercial

(v) 9 Saripolis Street (acre)--small club house with tennis courts.

3. We have accepted that, because of the political situation, there is little possibility in the foreseeable future of using the property at Shakespeare Avenue, which is situated in the Turkish Cypriot area of Nicosia, as a Residence for the High Commissioner. The house and grounds have been placed on a care and maintenance basis with the exception of part of the ground floor which is used as office accommodation.

4. There are thirty-six UK-based staff at the High Commission. They are housed as follows:

20 per cent in owned accommodation (1972–20 per cent)

50 per cent in accommodation leased in the name of the High Commission and furnished by DOE (1972-40 per cent)

30 per cent in accommodation found and leased by the officer (1972-40 per cent).

5. The cost of rent for staff accommodation in 1974-75 was £C34,030 (against £C23,119 in 1971-72). The main single change arose because the leased accom- modation near the High Commission, which members of the sub-committee saw in 1972, became untenable during the fighting of July/August 1974 and has since been occupied by the Turkish forces, by the Greek National Guard or (in the intervening zone) controlled by the United Nations.

6. Over the past year property values and rents (except near the demarcation line between Greek and Turkish Cypriots) have not changed at the same rate as before. Rents for staff accommodation average about 4 per cent of the estimated purchase price (see attached note) although rents for houses (as distinct from flats) are now increasing because of their scarcity. It is impossible to make any reliable assessment at present of the cost of building land. We do not recommend any extension of our owned estate in present circumstances.

7. The main High Commission buildings are leased from the Government of Cyprus at an annual rent of £C4,930, the lease having been extended recently until 1980. One floor of an office block in the centre of Nicosia is rented at £C2,400 per annum. This was obtained, with other office accommodation, after the Turkish intervention in Cyprus in August 1974 to house the Consular, Com- mercial, Information and Administration sections which were almost entirely dependent on locally-engaged staff and which had to deal with the public, few of whom would come to the main buildings, and later to provide office space for the new British Property & Interests Section. The offices also provided a reserve base in Nicosia for the High Commission should the main buildings again become untenable. The situation has now improved and we expect to be able to terminate the lease in the very near future.

8. Until the political future of Cyprus becomes more clearer it is impracticable to plan for new office accommodation (as proposed in the 1972 Memorandum), but a single purpose-built office at some future date is still desirable as being more efficient and economical than our existing separate buildings. In the mean- time, we are making the best use of what we have.