XN000022-1988-08-23 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1988

GOVT RECEIVED OMELCO REPORT ON EXPO PROPOSAL

THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR PETER TSAO, TODAY (TUESDAY) CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A REPORT FROM THE OMELCO PANEL STUDYING THE PROPOSAL FOR HONG KONG TO HOST A MAJOR EXPOSITION IN 1997.

THE REPORT GAVE SUPPORT TO THE IDEA OF HONG KONG HOSTING SUCH AN EVENT. IT ALSO IDENTIFIED THE ABSENCE OF A NEW AIRPORT AS A MAJOR DEFICIENCY.

MOREOVER IT IS NOTED THAT THE CONSULTANTS' FRASIBILITY STUDY IS STILL UNDER PREPARATION AND THAT THEIR REPORT IS EXPECTED IN SEPTEMBER.

MR TSAO SAID HE HAD SOUGHT OPINIONS FROM TWO EXPERTS ON THE

SUBJECT.

THESE OPINIONS CENTRED ON WHAT BASIC REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BEFORE ANY ADMINISTRATION COULD CONSIDER HOSTING AN EXPOSITION OF THIS KIND.

THESE OPINIONS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IN ORDER TO DRAW LARGE NUMBER OF OVERSEAS VISITORS TO SUCH AN EVENT, MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO HONG KONG WAS AN IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT.

THE ADMINISTRATION SOUGHT THESE OPINIONS WITH A VIEW TO ARRIVING AT A PRELIMINARY VIEW ON WHETHER OR NOT TO SEEK

TO REGISTER AN INTEREST WITH THE BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL EXPO IN PARÍS IN HOSTING WORLD EXPO IN 1997.

HOWEVER, IN THE LIGHT OF THE STUDY WHICH HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED BY MR STEPHEN CHEONG, IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO AWAIT COMPLETION OF THE STUDY BEFORE REACHING A VIEW.

MR TSAO EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS EXPECTED THAT A FURTHER MEETING WOULD BE HELD WITH MR CHEONG AND HIS LEGCO COLLEAGUES WHEN THE PANEL RE-CONVENED IN THE NEXT LEGCO SESSION.

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