TNAG-2660-FCO40-3856-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-1992 — Page 36

CONFIDENTIAL

4.2.

argued

Mr Cox said that we should not give up completely on

Victoria House. He felt that the Hong Kong Government could

well afford to give us Victoria House as well as the, Colvin

likely local

might have House site and that the opposition to this idea had been exaggerated Governments of former dependent territories often gave the British Government good properties when they became independent. He therefore suggested that we brief

-designate on the case the new Governor and get his support for Victoria House.

Mr Cox added that we should bear in mind that if we decided

might to go for Victoria House it was better to move in as soon as possible in order to minimise any reaction. One way in which this could be achieved was by exchanging the Albany apartment for Victoria House when the present Chief

Secretary retires.

4.

In conclusion Mr Hum_said that we should brief the new

-dlagnate Governor (about the problems over the future Consul-General's residence and put to him the question of Victoria House.

should also send a reply to the present Governor's who had

deal

1

We

recently written suggesting a package for Headquarters House, involving the handing over of surplus GCHQ flats to the Hong Kong Government who would build a new house for the Commander of the Chinese PLAY, to the effect that we were grateful for his proposals but that we were not in favour of

pursuing this building for the reasons given by Mr Galsworthy. Mr Hum asked if Hong Kong Department could to

prepare these two drafts for him.

Hong Kong Dept

que 1992

JH4ABF/2

19/06/92