Last remaining part of British embassy compound to be sold to highest bidder

**Hans Mann** · 01-06-2016, 05:35 AM

Partial demolition of the embassy occurred in 2006Photo source 2Bangkok.com

Although a public decision by the British government isn’t expected till later this year, insiders say it is certain that the whole remaining British embassy compound in Wireless Road, Bangkok, is to be sold to the highest bidder. The current eight acre premises, which are prime real estate, are estimated to be worth at least 200 million pounds. Embassy officials first took up residence there in 1922.

Partial demolition of the embassy occurred in 2006 Photo source 2Bangkok.com
Partial demolition of the embassy occurred in 2006Photo source 2Bangkok.com
A four-acre frontage of the embassy, located at the intersection of Wireless and Ploenchit roads, was sold in 2006 for 50 million pounds to Tiang Chirathivat Real Estate, part of Central Group, which owned a neighboring flagship retail property. At the time, the sale was one of Thailand’s largest property sales ever but, in the last 10 years, prime real estate in central Bangkok has soared even further in value.

The Wireless Road site is famous for its iconic buildings, including the ambassador’s historic residence, tropical gardens and a 1903 statue of Queen Victoria which was shrouded by the Japanese during their occupation of Bangkok in the early 1940s. However, she was said to be able to keep an eye on what was going on through a small tear in the sheets. Many old-time British expats recall with affection the numerous grand events which used to be held on the embassy premises, including the Ploenchit Fairs. Although smaller garden parties have continued to be held from time to time, security concerns have kept these to a minimum in recent years.

It is not uncommon for the cash-strapped British government to seek cash savings in its overseas missions. In 2005, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced that 30 diplomatic posts in the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean would be downgraded to combat terrorism....

UK embassy to be sold | Pattaya Today Newspaper

**CaptainNemo** · 01-06-2016, 05:42 AM

Why?!
Spite?
Erase all British history outside the EU?

**AntRobertson** · 01-06-2016, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by CaptainNemo

Why?!
Spite?
Erase all British history outside the EU?

...

It is not uncommon for the cash-strapped British government to seek cash savings in its overseas missions. In 2005, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced that 30 diplomatic posts in the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean would be downgraded to combat terrorism...

**taxexile** · 01-06-2016, 11:26 AM

Why?!

£200,000,000.

**slackula** · 01-06-2016, 11:29 AM

Good.

Let G4S buy it for pennies on the pound and run 'services' for Brit expats because the stately embassy hasn't done jack shit for years except provide a place for low grade civil servants to pad their resumes and low grade Ambs to have a cushy posting for a year or two while trying to sell weapons to whoever claims to be the government at the time.

Pity about the Gurkha guards though, they were the only thing about the place that was quite nice.

**Seekingasylum** · 01-06-2016, 12:47 PM

Britain's FCO has long been behind the curve of its relative importance to the world and in truth Britain's value to other states is really to act as a facilitator/broker for them in negotiating between competing power blocs with conflicting interests.

In several regions this role has become largely symbolic and probably redundant - a good example of this would in fact be Bangkok where the size of the compound is far and away disproportionately large in relation to the modest diplomatic and consular complement housed by it. There are over 60 home-based accredited staff en post but nearly half are engaged in visa work and are mostly Home Office employees not answerable to the Foreign Office. A trend within UK Visas & Immigration has been a shift in its work from embassies to processing centres in the UK (no one is interviewed face-to-face anymore) and this can only increase, further diminishing the need for such a large compound.

Selling it is therefore quite an attractive proposition and no great loss. The prestige in having such a grand venue for a comparatively minor role in the scheme of things has now become almost a parody. Personally, I think it quite grubby that the British should wish to capitalise on what was a gift granted by the King all those years ago but then, Britain is fast becoming a tawdry version of its former self where most politicians and high ranking public servants are in truth no more than pigs at the trough.

**Bettyboo** · 01-06-2016, 12:49 PM

Did the British government ever buy the land or was it given to them by the Thai government to run an embassy? If the latter then do they even have the right to sell the land?

Edit to add: just seen sausageman's last sentence, and that was my impression too - quite shameful; if they don't want the land then give it back to the owner.

**Seekingasylum** · 01-06-2016, 12:52 PM

See my post.

**Airportwo** · 01-06-2016, 01:03 PM

"Cash strapped British government"! Bollocks always plenty of money for bombs and wars! now resorting to selling a gift, I would be embarrassed if I gave a siht.

Thankfully poor third world Thailand are managing to hang onto their embassy in Singapore which must be worth mega bucks!

**wasabi** · 02-06-2016, 12:42 AM

If you occupy or squat on land in Thailand, after so many years it becomes yours.

**sabang** · 02-06-2016, 01:49 AM

200mm pounds- I doubt that would cover the refugee bill for one year.

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