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Catherine Chan

LEGISLATIVE Councillors endorsed the new post of Hongkong's ''ambassador'' to the United States at the finance committee yesterday.

  The Commissioner of Economic and Trade Affairs in the US - a post designated for the former Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Barrie Wiggham - carries a monthly salary of $119,050.

  It was approved even though the 13 United Democrats, pro-China legislator Mr Tam Yiu-chung and independent Miss Emily Lau Wai-hing abstained.

  Legislators also approved the purchase of a $20 million house for Mr Wiggham in Washington.

  United Democrat Dr Huang Chen-ya said the new post should be at the civil service's D6 rank instead of D8 rank.

  Mr Tam did not think it necessary to create a new post in Washington.

  But most legislators agreed to the plan after the Government aborted an earlier decision to make the post a departmental position.

  This previous proposal drew fierce criticism after it was revealed that Mr Wiggham could collect an immediate $5 million pension before he took up the post.

  Also yesterday, legislators endorsed a proposal to spend $2 billion on the purchase and fitting out of new office accommodation on Hongkong Island and in Kowloon.

  The money will enable the Government to buy 23,000 square metres of office accommodation on the island at an estimated cost of $1.6 billion, and 7,000 square metres in Kowloon estimated at $410 million.

  They were told by the new Secretary for Treasury, Mr Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, that negotiations to buy new offices in less expensive areas such as Wan Chai and Kwun Tong were continuing.



Post of 'ambassador' on $120,000 endorsed