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12. A number of other sites could be considered for building development, including that in Wanchai
occupied by the old police station building, but none of these have the potential and advantages of the Victoria Barracks site.
13.
As for residential accommodation, the CBF's house on Barker Road (Head Quarter House) would be eminently suitable for the Consul-General. It is at present held by British Forces under a memorandum of appropriation. The full cost of construction was met by the Hong Kong Government and it would revert to the Hong Kong Government if no longer required for Forces use. There might be resistance from the Chinese to allocating this quarter to the British Consul-General. But the Embassy will be better judges of this than we are.
14.
It would certainly be sensible to have alternatives in mind. Other possibilities would be one of the senior military quarters at Stanley Fort or a suitable senior government quarter. Should these not prove to be feasible or suitable, the alternatives would be to buy land and build or to rent or buy a suitable house from the private
sector.
15. As for accommodating other Consulate staff, it may well be that in the years running up to 1997 the number of quarters needed for Government officers will decrease and some could be made available to HMG. These quarters vary in quality and size and they are spread in generally convenient locations on the Island and the Kowloon peninsula.
16.
With regard to a continuation of title for all properties beyond 1997, there are at present one or two imponderables.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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