TNAG-2960-FCO40-4239-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-building-incl-1993 — Page 83

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FUTURE CONSULATE GENERAL IN HONG KONG: LOCAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE

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A meeting of the local Coordinating Committee (LCC) took place at the BTC on 25 March. OED briefed the committee in detail on the savings identified to cut down on the cost overrun (the committee was already broadly familiar with the scope of these). Construction is due to begin in August, ground clearance will go on prior to this, probably starting in May. Mr Jarvis will send us the minutes in due course. The visit was attended by various out of town visitors; myself, the MRS team, Mr Smith and Mr Whittle from OED and Mr Reading from the British Council. You will wish to be aware of the following main points which arose during the meeting (and were also discussed at other times during my visit):

Governor's interest in a briefing at some stage on the new

(a) building;

(b) Marker put down by British Council to say they cannot contemplate paying any kind of rent as a contribution towards the cost overrun of the new building, but that they have identified space saving;

(c) Identification of probable further expenditure of £250,000 necessitated by an extra access road to the British Council side of the buildings which may be needed to comply with fire regulations for educational establishments;

(d) Some second thoughts on collocation of the British Chamber of Commerce.

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Briefing for Governor. Mr Bradley mentioned to me over lunch (also attended by representatives from Farrells and Swires) the Governor's interest in a briefing at some stage on the new building. Mr Smith-Laittan suggested during the LCC that Mr Needham's trip at the end of April might provide an opportunity for a private briefing for the Minister and the Governor and that it was for consideration whether some publicity might be appropriate at this stage. Mr Smith-Laittan requested that I bring this proposal to your and Mr Hum's attention. (As far as I know Mr Smith-Laittan has not mentioned the possibility to the DTI as yet).

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I discussed this subsequently with OED; the end of April would be a bit tight. Farrells will not submit the final

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