TNAG-2711-FCO40-3917-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 92

would be inappropriate, given the small numbers of people involved and the immigration assurances already given about their eligibility to settle here and to qualify for registration or naturalisation in the normal way. The

Governor of Hong Kong raised the issue again with the Home

Secretary on 9 November. However no substantive change in Home Office views is expected.

Future British Consulate General

35. The UK Government attach considerable importance to maintaining a prestige presence to show our continued commitment to Hong Kong after 1997 and to match our continuing interests. Following agreement in principle during the Prime Minister's visit to Peking in September 1991, the Sino-British Land Commission in Hong Kong formally agreed to the granting of a prestigious site (the Colvin House site, in Supreme Court Road) to the United Kingdom Government at nominal premium for the construction of the future British Consulate-General. The

Foreign and Commonwealth Office commissioned and briefed six architectural practices to prepare initial sketch designs. The design by Terry Qarrell and Co Ltd was selected in August 1992 as the most suitable high quality design. Construction is due to begin later this year. The building will bring together the British Trade Commission, the JLG (which continues to operate up to the year 2000) an immigration and passport section (these matters are now dealt with by the Hong Kong Immigration Department) and the British Council.

ipu.conf.PR

SLM

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