TNAG-1712-FCO40-23901-Open-extracts-Folios-79--80-1987 — Page 15

ZCZC

IPPEAN 3063 ESTRICTED

P PEKIN

ния нови

RECEIVED IN REGISTOV

OCNIAN 569N 1983

FM FCOLN TO PERTAL

11142OZ NOV

GRS 319

RESTRICTED

FI FCC

TO PRIORITY PEKING

TELNO 1000

OF 1114 OZ NOVEMBER 37

Destroy after

Register

Received in Reciptry

12 NOV 1937

Desk Office-

INDEX

PRIORITY

Distry ACTION

37

NONE

STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR HUM, VISITING, FROM HKD

CONSUL ATE-GENERAL IN HONG KONG

1.

WE HAVE SPOKEN TO OED ABOUT THE TWO BUILDINGS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE PUT FORWARD AS POSSIBLE CONSULATE-GENERAL SITES (BEACONSFIELD HOUSE AND THE NEW RODNEY BUILDING).

2.

MIKE PUGSLEY, ONE OF THEIR ARCHITECTS, RECENTLY HAD A BRIEF LOOK AT BOTH. IN HIS VIEW BOTH SITES WOULD NEED EXTENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A SUITABLE CONSULATE-GENERAL: NEITHER IS PRESENTLY SUITABLE ALTHOUGH BOTH SITES COULD, IN PRINCIPLE, BE OF INTEREST TO US.

3.

REDEVELOPMENT TO HOUSE ONLY THE CONSULATE-GENERAL WOULD PROBABLY ENTAIL LEAVING THE POTENTIAL OF THE SITES UNDEREXPLOITED. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE LOATHE TO SEE SUCH SITES UNDERDEVELOPED. HOWEVER, REDEVELOPMENT TO FULL POTENTIAL WOULD BE TOO BIG AN UNDERTAKING FOR HMG ALONE AND IF IT WAS THE HONG KONG GOVERMENT'S WISH THAT THE SITES SHOULD BE FULLY DEVELOPED THEN WE WOULD ONLY CONSIDER TAKING THEM ON A JOINT BASIS WITH A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPER OR DEVELOPERS. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE MOST HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT VIEW, IF ANY, THEY HAVE ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY FEEL THE TWO BUILDINGS OUGHT TO BE REDEVELOPED.

4.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE BASIS AND TERMS ON WHICH THE SITES WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO US, FOR DETAILED CONSIDERATION BY OED. ANY PRICE QUOTED IS LIKELY TO REFLECT THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY WANT TO SEE THE SITES' POTENTIAL DEVELOPED. 5.

OED WOULD ALSO NEED TO KNOW IN DUE COURSE OF ANY PLANNING PROPOSALS WHICH MIGHT AFFECT THE REDEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF EITHER SITE. WE BELIEVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT A NEW UNDERGROUND CAR PARK IS PLANNED FOR CONSTRUCTION UNDER THE NEW RODNEY BUILDING, ALTHOUGH WE IMAGINE THIS WOULD NOT FOSE A SERIOUS OBSTACLE TO REDEVELOPMENT.

6.

WE HOPE THE ABOVE GIVES YOU ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THINGS FORWARD A LITTLE WHEN YOU ARE IN HONG KONG NEXT WEEK.

HOVE

OCHIAN 6941

NNN

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