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This seems a vefty price tag for "iflevibitif", für vinbody as Ki BC are nor offery to pry for it. I'm also not reassured by IEN! relaxed views an
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use of Re 15% (mrifgency. (we have expmorg 6) OED costrings!
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The amaveris it's a fudge. They'd peyi lowr we'd keep quiet
about it.
Yes
background to the submission which they are putting up on the Consulate General, seeking agreement to spend £29 million on the project. OED would like Mr Hum's Steering Committee to consider the question of whether the Procurement Unit should take the space on offer. OED will recommend that the British Council offer be accepted. OED are keeping RMD informed and will inform other members of the Steering Committee in the form of a visit report to be prepared by Mr Smith. In the meantime, Farrells are amending the design to include the Procurement Unit.
8. Extra Access Road. The registration of the British Council as a school entails compliance with various fire and safety regulations. Swires was apparently aware of this, but presumed that the British Council would be registering (so far they have been exempt) as a single subject school. However the British Council wish to register as teaching more than one subject, to allow themselves maximum flexibility. In order to comply with fire regulations for such a school, an unforeseen extra access road would be needed to allow fire ladders access to the furthest point of the roof. (They can get access already to the roof from the existing set up, but not to each part of the roof, as this is angled away from the access road now existing.) To provide this road would cost an extra £250,000. OED have asked Swires to look into this further. They can in fact meet the cost without raising expenditure on the building, as there is a 5% contingency planning line built into the estimates. Clearly we must comply with relevant regulations - but equally we must be satisfied that this is a requirement. OED will report at the next meeting of Mr Hum's committee.
9. British Chamber of Commerce. The MRS had been briefed by the DTI (OT2 and PEP) before going to Hong Kong that the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) would need to prove themselves between now and 1997. DTI were not, so far, particularly impressed. Mr Smith-Laittan is doing his best to promote the Chamber with visiting British businessmen and through cooperation locally. He went over the advantages of collocation. But the BCC have been assigned space for 5/6 people and now have ambitious plans (which may of course come to nothing) to expand to around 20 people over the next few years. There is no question of giving them extra space in the new building. Some members of the LCC wondered why no consideration had been given during the latest cost cutting round to their presence in the building. OED voiced concern about how, under the terms of the PTG, the FCO would get reimbursement from the BCC for the facilities offered. (I will look at the back papers on this and consult Legal Advisers as necessary). BTC will keep us posted on BCC plans. The BCC meanwhile told the MRS they would like to know more about the terms of their inclusion in the building. The question of the BCC presence needs airing we shall need to consider what
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