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5.
Council don't wish to combine (apart from other cosiderations, the two accounting systems are not compatible).
On
(VI) Cost breaks down into capital and recurrent. capital, Mr Whittle quoted Foster and the Hong Kong Bank as the mode. I find that odd. But in terms of day to day management, the building is unnecessarily demanding of staff time. Certainly, the commercial section will work less efficiently.
-[OED to draft]
(VI) The group is new to Hong Kong. That in itself is not a barrier but I have not seen much evidence that they have put in the spadework that I would expect from any of the many consultants with whome we work. (I shall be delighted if you prove me wrong). More seriously, they seem insensitive to what happens inside a consulate-general. Their designs are strong on
drawings and rhetoric but are the most difficult to follow. The bold statement on their principal design sheet that the garden is the "heart of the life of the consulate-general" is disturbing.
-[OED to draft].
The multi-purpose hall. The Council here make clear that they are prepared to take on the hall since it will be paid for by the FCO. But they have yet to see an operating budget and would not have proposed it had it not been presented to them as a gift. They would be content to see it dropped. Were I the C-G I would assert that it had no value to the Consulate-General and was inappropriate for the Council. There is a host of suitable venues, many within easy reach of the new building. The best contribution we can all make to the SAR is to play a full part in the life of Hong Kong and be seen to do so. I believe my Council colleague is sympathetic to these views but he would like to see the budgetary calculations first.
-[OED to draft]
6.
I asked on 8 June what the Hall would cost. Mr Whittle did not know.
7.
- On the contrary, Mr Whittle told SBTC it would cost around £500,000. A point which the marginalia on Mr Jarvis' minute of 4 July indicate was noted at the time.
We have only had a cursory study of other designs (six hours) and agree they also have many defects.
questfin.SLM
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