CONFIDENTIAL
of the properties provided adequate representational accommodation. Last January Lord Caithness discussed the
matter with the Governor and asked him whether Victoria
House (currently the Chief Secretary's residence and the
best house owned by the Hong Kong Government after
Government House) could be made available. The Governor
ruled this out and floated the alternative idea of
Headquarters House which is the official residence of the
Commander British Forces. Mr Galsworthy said at that time
that as the building was part of the military estate he was
sure that the Chinese military would want it for themselves
after 1997 and that they would not agree to us keeping it.
We share that view.
5. In a recent letter the Governor suggested a variant:
that the Hong Kong Government could build a new house for
the Commander of the Chinese PLA garrison in order to
compensate the Chinese for the loss of Headquarters House
and that the cost of this new building could be met by our
handing back to the Hong Kong Government surplus GCHQ flats
(Pendragon Court). We have been trying for some time to
sell Pendragon (though because of the run down state of the
property it is not very marketable) or to swop it for other
properties suitable for junior staff accommodation for the
British Consulate General. But Mr Galsworthy is certain
that the package proposed by Hong Kong would lead us into a
lengthy dispute with the Chinese (and suspects that some in
the Hong Kong Government see this as a ruse to side-track
us).
6. There is no doubt that Victoria House would be the best
house for the British Consul General after 1997. After 150
years of British administration, it is right that HMG should
retain a suitably worthy residence for the British
representative. As far as we know there are few HKG houses apart from Victoria House and Headquarters House which would
BODAGK/2
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.