TNAG-1812-FCO40-2573-Preservation-of-Ohel-Leah-Synagogue-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 196

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HKD 294/1

15 JUL 1988

VICEM

054314

MDHOAN 0398

TO DESKBY 15010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1878

INDL

KA

OF 14110OZ JULY 88

ONS

OUR TELNO 1789 YOUR TELNO 2645: OHEL LEAH SYNAGOGUE: LETTER TO

LORD GLENARTHUR

1. WE PROPOSE TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DRAFT REPLY TO MRS

RODWELL'S LETTER:

BEGINS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER OF 1 JULY ABOUT THE OHEL LEAH

SYNAGOGUE.

I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE

ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT THE PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF THE PRESENT SYNAGOGUE. I HAVE TO SAY, HOWEVER,

THAT THIS A MATTER WHICH FALLS ENTIRELY WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. IT IS FOR THEM TO DECIDE WHETHER OR

NOT TO ACCEPT THE ADVICE OF THE AAB TO DECLARE THE SYNAGOGUE A

MONUMENT AND PRESERVE IT.

IN YOUR LETTER YOU MAKE A NUMBER OF SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS

WITHOUT ADDUCING ANY EVIDENCE TO SUBSTANTIATE THEM. I HAVE

NEVERTHELESS TAKEN THESE UP WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN THOROUGHLY

INVESTIGATED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND OMELCO: ALL CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE TO INTERVENE.

ENDS

2 =

WITH APOLOGIES FOR THE TIGHT DEADLINE, GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS DESKBY 15090OZ SO THAT WE CAN MEET OUR DEADLINE FOR

SUBMISSION OF THE DRAFT.

HOWE

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ΜΑΙΝ

LIMITED

HKD

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PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

MR MCLAREN

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