TNAG-2961-FCO40-4240-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-building-incl-1993 — Page 20

CF/HKG/3001/2

PC290/393/1

071 389 4810

071 389 4141

Mr Wavell Magor

My Jee

please fox to Mr Smith DED

Mr Wootton RFD

Cultural Relations Department

FCO

London SW1A 2AH

pee new.

HUD 406/2

нио

RECEIVER

13 AUG 1993

DESK OFFICE! INDER

10 August 1993

HONG KONG NEW CONSULATE GENERAL BUILDING

Thank you for your letter of 9 August.

The non grant-in-aid services provided by the Council in Hong Kong are restricted to the teaching of English. However this accounts for a major part of the Council's work in Hong Kong and without it our space requirements would reduce by about two-thirds.

We do not think that rent-free space would be an unfair advantage. As you will see from my letter of 9 August regarding rent and running costs the saving we can reasonably anticipate is not large. There is also the considerable risk that the teaching operation is taking in moving from a tested and well-known site to a new one in a market where location can prove critical. We decided to make this particular move primarily because of the political imperative to have a significant British presence brought together in the one place. It is not a move that automatically improves the prospects of the English teaching operation. I understand this point has been made many times in the past, and trust it is not contentious.

Romesh Gunesekera

Assistant Regional Director

cc Mrs Barnes Jones HKD

Nick Elam CRD

1a.