TNAG-2967-FCO40-4246-Future-of-Hong-Kong-British-Consulate-General-inclusion-of--1993 — Page 100

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Reference

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/CONSULATE-GENERAL

He said the position as I have now had my meeting with Mr Chiu.

The General Committee were he understood it had not changed. minded at this point in time to press hard for space in the new Consulate-General building, but for 200 square metres rather than the 107 square metres allowed for in the original Farrell design.

But he made two points viz that the question of collocation in the Consulate-General building would have to be kept under review and if it seemed politic for the BCC not to be collocated in a British Government building, then they would

his other have to opt for alternative accommodation outside; point was that the BCC had generally assumed, following meetings with Peter Heap and Stephen Day that the accommodation would be offered at a peppercorn rent.

It

I am afraid this does not take us very much further forward. would certainly seem that even though there is a willingness on the part of the British Chamber of Commerce to collocate in the Consulate-General building, they may not be in a position to give us a long term commitment (this is not however a generally held view at the BCC; Anthony Wood (senior partner. at McKenna & Co and incoming Chairman at the BCC) thinks the BCC could give a Also the question of long (10. years plus) commitment on space).

As far as this a peppercorn rent will have to be put to OBD. commercial department is concerned, we have not changed our views;

these are that we see considerable operational advantages in the RCC and the commercial section of the CG being collocated. This will make the maximum use of the space available for British businessmen and will avoid duplication of effort and a better co-operative approach to export promotion work. The only negative aspect would be the encroachment of the BCC into the space allocated for the commercial section if we are to allow them a further 93 square metres of floor space but I should imagine we will be able to live with that.

They should not

have been led to that use apphim

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!

:

7 May 1993

MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

J Smith-Laittan