TNAG-1636-FCO40-2252-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 26

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in

¿d,mances

I woken?

needs substantial but sensitive development, to get maximum value from a site valued conservatively at £750m. Life in Tokyo is colossally expensive but the reductions arising out of the recent inspection have been accepted. The saving grace in Japan is the

COLA Agreement's favourable provision for sporting activities.

6. In Hong Kong the various pockets of DS staff (in the Political Adviser's Office, the Trade Commission (BTC), the China Trade Unit, the DS Mails Office and the communicators based at Government House) seemed somewhat fragmented, but in very good heart under the new regime. Their lack of immunities and privileges and difficulties over land title pose special problems with which Hong Kong Department are grappling as a not unimportant detail of the count-down to 1997. Mr Clift told me that he intends to coordinate more closely in future with Mr Holloway of the BTC as part of the process under which their ultimate successors will end up together in the new Consulate-General in 1997.

Mong

C W Long

15 June 1987

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