CONFIDENTIAL
meet our requirement (but we are checking again).
The
7. There would be opposition to giving Victoria House to HMG (we would not be able to afford full market price). Chinese might object to the disposal of a Hong Kong asset (and may well have their eye on it for the Chief Executive's residence). There would also be an element of local feeling
that Britain did not deserve a house of this standing, given that we were returning Hong Kong to China against their
will.
8.
Mr Patten will want to weigh up the strength of feeling in Hong Kong for himself. But it is worth bearing in mind that most of the opposition to granting HMG the Colvin House site came from the expatriate element in the Hong Kong
Government. There was no strong local opposition, and none from the Chinese. That site was however nothing like as
well-known and high prestige as Victoria House. If it is clear that there would be significant local opposition to
Victoria House, we would need to look at HKG houses of slightly less prominence. But none will be easy to prise
away from their occupants.
9.
If we decide to go for Victoria House, we should try to move well before 1997 in order to minimise any reaction.
Possibly the best way to go about this would be to exchange the Albany flat, currently the official residence of the Senior British Trade Commissioner, for Victoria House when
Sir D Ford retires.
BODAGK/3
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CO Hum
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