TNAG-2658-FCO40-3854-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-1992 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG

TELNO 277

OF 19090OZ DECEMBER 91

ANNEX D

127423

MDLOAN 2602

YOUR TELNO 370: CONSULATE-GENERAL AND THE BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

1.

MINISTERS HAVE APPROVED THE PRINCIPLE OF INCORPORATING THE BCC INTO THE NEW CONSULATE-GENERAL IF THIS CAN BE ARRANGED. BUT AS YOU ARE AWARE WE FIRST NEED TO RESOLVE THE QUESTION OF COMPATIBILITY WITH THE PRIVATE TREATY GRANT. WE ARE THUS SOME WAY FROM BEING ABLE TO DISCUSS SUCH SPECIFICS AS POSSIBLE LEVEL OF RENT, OR WHETHER ANY RENT SHOULD BE CHARGEABLE (PRESUMABLY THE QUESTION OF SUBSIDISING THE BCC'S ACCOMMODATION WOULD BE A MATTER FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE DTI), STILL LESS TO DEFINE THE KIND OF LEASE ARRANGEMENT THEY MIGHT BE GIVEN.

2.

WE ARE PLEASED TO NOTE YOUR ASSESSMENT THAT THE BCC WILL BE ABLE TO COPE WITH QUITE A SMALL SPACE. IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS FOR SECURITY AND DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY IN COLOCATION WITH THE BCC, BUT WE SHALL BE AS SYMPATHETIC AS WE CAN. WE SUGGEST THAT FOR THE TIME BEING YOU EXPLAIN TO THE BCC, IF THEY ASK, THAT WE MUST RESOLVE THE DETAILED QUESTIONS ARISING FROM THE PTG BEFORE WE CAN GIVE THEM THE GUIDANCE THEY SEEK.

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