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Council have completed a review of their requirements with the result of achieving space savings on levels one and two of their building which is basically a self contained suite and will be adequate for Procurement Unit: Mr Buchanan confirmed that the British Council would give up level one and level two of their west wing.
10.
MRS are currently carrying out a review on future staffing of the Consulate-General. I stated that we had doubts about the exercise being able to produce enough realistic reductions for the saving of a whole floor which is necessary to achieve any real cost savings on construction. I pointed that we could not await the outcome of the MRS review if OED is to maintain the programme for occupation on 1 July 1996: in particular we need to submit our plans to the Hong Kong Authorities by the end of April 1993 for Building Ordinance approval which we need before commencing the foundation works.
.11.
I informed the Committee that we will now be submitting to the Minister recommending that we proceed with the project at a total estimated cost of £29 million with OED funding the current level of shortfall at the expense of other capital works projects if we are unable to find actual cost savings via reduction of requirements and/or reduction of building/service specifications: the latter cannot be -sensibly studied until completion of FSDS and FSD
report. I stated that we had hoped the British Council would contribute to the shortfall based on their nett percentage of the buildings (38% on 19 March 1993) but they have advised that they have no funds available to take on extra unexpected costs and instead have now reduced their requirements: Mr Buchanan emphasised that the British Council have no extra funds available. Mrs Barnes-Jones stated that this aspect had not yet been discussed by the HK Steering Committee but would be at its next meeting.
12.
I updated the Committee on the position of the designs including the main changes detailed in para 5(a) to 5 (r) above. I emphasised that the changes conform to the current instructions of the main clients i.e. HK Steering Committee and the British Council: Mr Buchanan confirmed that the British Council are content with the proposed revised layouts for their building. I Informed the meeting that Mr
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