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Chloe Lai

He must have been looking forward to making himself at ease in the heritage building that was designated as his office last year, but former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa has been told to expect company.

Yesterday the government announced the white, two-storey, grade-III-listed building at 28 Kennedy Road would be the office of two or three former chief executives.

So Mr Tung will have to make room for Donald Tsang Yam-kuen  in 2012.

Labelling the building an office for the retirees has tickled pan-democrats, who are sceptical of what work will be done there.

'It's a shame that a building with  historic value should be converted into this so-called office,' said the Frontier legislator Emily Lau Wai-hing.  'They should have to justify the need for this. What work will they have? Are they really going to be that busy?'

Conservationists had previously been the chief scrutinisers of the project, but now Mr Tsang might want to pay greater attention, given  the contrast between his tastes and those of Mr Tung, who is reported to have pressed for  some renovation.

While Mr Tung refused to live in  Government House on Lower Albert Road, Central,  Mr Tsang and his wife did  move in, though only after  a  HK$14.5 million renovation which included building  a HK$300,000 fish pond for his collection of koi.

HK$2.8 million has  been earmarked to refurbish the Kennedy Road mansion.

Conservationists welcomed the government's decision to open the building to the public, but demanded more details. 'The most important thing is public access. I hope it is not going to be one day, and only a small proportion of the building  opened,' said Betty Ho Siu-fong,  chairwoman of the Conservancy Association.

A grade III listing for a building means it  is  of some merit but does not qualify for consideration as a monument.

The government estimates that the former chief executive's office will cost about HK$2.2 million a year to run. The sum will cover the wages of three secretarial and clerical staff and a driver, and  operating expenses.

A government spokesman said the building could house two or three former chiefs, who would  receive visiting dignitaries and delegations, give interviews and take part in speaking engagements.



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Donald Tsang

Move over, Tung, you'll need to make room for another ex-chief