TNAG-2344-FCO40-3410-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-1992 — Page 171

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colocation; anti-British demonstrators (or the Chinese

authorities) are unlikely to consider the Council as being

free from British taint even if they were located separately

from the Consulate-General, (locally engaged staff recall

that pro-Cultural Revolution demonstrators in the late 1960s made no such distinction). Conversely, if things turned

really bad the Council might well be safer in the Consulate-General development.

6.

We have also considered the practical, security and political implications of the Council's ELT activities in

the new building, (FCO telno 200 to BTC):

(a) the impact of the movement of a probable 12-1500

students per hour on the local infrastructure;

(b) the security implications of the operation being in the same building as the Consul General and his

staff; and

(c) the political implications of a large body of students in close proximity to the Consulate-General,

including the risk of attempts to seek asylum/sanctuary

on diplomatic premises.

7. It is clear from an examination of the site and

environs that the numbers envisaged (both of ELT students and of customers for the passport and visa sections of the Consulate) will pose no problem to the local infrastructure. The Colvin House site's close proximity to Pacific Place

will greatly assist the movement of visitors to the

Consulate-General and British Council offices. Visitors

will be able to pass comfortably to and from the Admiralty MTR terminal and other transport interchanges via Pacific

Place (some six escalators and less than a ten minute walk

NC2AAC/3

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