CONFIDENTIAL
2. State of play on the PTG
Negotiations with the Hong Kong Buildings and Lands
Department on a Private Treaty Grant (PTG) for the Colvin
House Site, which we are to get cost free, are nearly complete. The grant will constitute our title to the site
and buildings for a 50 year term. Agreement has now been
reached on most points. However we are still concerned
about the restrictions placed on the allocation of space within the new building. As the PTG stands at present the
new building will house both the British Consulate General
and the British Council. But any space that becomes surplus
to the needs of both these offices in the future cannot be
used by any other British Government body (eg the British
Overseas Trade Board or the Northern Ireland Development
Board), without the agreement of the Director of Buildings
and Lands. Ok now, but what about a hostile future SAR
Administration? This could be a serious practical
inconvenience should our needs and those of the British
Council change in the future. We are hoping that some
formula can be found to remove this restriction.
Not worth spending a lot of time on this. But OED might be
invited to brief on where matters stand, and what is being
done to reach a solution.
JH4AAW/2
CONFIDENTIAL
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