1466
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 25 May 1988
·
Secretary for Administrative Services AND INFORMATION: Sir, may I pref my answer by clarifying some facts about the way the Bureau International d'Expositions (BIE) functions. The rules under which the BIE operates provide that a bid to host an exhibition of this nature must be registered six years before the event. A bid can also be registered at any time before that date but there is no necessity to do so. The meeting of the bureau on 31 May is simply the BIE's regular annual general meeting. This date, therefore, in no way represents a deadline.
Sir, the bureau is already aware of Hong Kong's interest in hosting an Expo in 1997. No further notification of interest is required at this stage.
The feasibility of Hong Kong hosting a World Exhibition is under active study within the Administration. It is, as Members will appreciate, a complex question which involves a number of branches and departments within the Government. We have, however, a sufficiently long time until 1991 in which to examine in depth the feasibility of the proposal. The Government considers that it is in Hong Kong's best interest to examine the proposal carefully and thoroughly.
Sir, with permission, may I anticipate my hon. Friend's next question, I can- not at this stage provide a timetable for the finalisation of the feasibility study. I can, however, assure him that when we have arrived at a conclusion on the feasibility of Hong Kong undertaking this venture, a decision will be made as to whether or not to register a formal bid for Hong Kong to host a World Exhibition in 1997.
MR. CHEONG: Sir, the Secretary did not anticipate my next question. In fact, my next question is, in paragraph 2 of the Secretary's answer he states that the BIE is aware of Hong Kong's interest. Does that mean BIE has been notified formally by a United Kingdom representative of our interest? If not, is it Government's view that the effect of learning of Hong Kong's interest through media reports has the same significance to the bureau, as formally raising it during the meeting?
SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION: Sir, as I under- stand it, the main proponents of this proposal have been in touch with the bureau and therefore, the bureau is aware of Hong Kong's interest. That awareness, of course, does not make it unnecessary for Hong Kong to register should it be decided eventually that we would wish to do so. No registration at this stage is necessary, and I think that is really the point. We are looking at the feasibility and until that is done, we cannot go on to the second step.
PROF. POON: Sir, according to the first paragraph of the Secretary's answer, he implied that the date of 31 May is not the deadline. In that case, may I ask whether the Government is aware of any development within BIE which may alter the present six-year rule? If so, would the Government consider prudently, to take out an insurance policy to request the British Government to register Hong Kong's