XN000022-1988-10-13 — Page 2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1988

EXPO PROPOSAL: RESERVATIONS OVER PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES

AFTER DETAILED CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSULTANTS' REPORT ON THE PROPOSAL THAT HONG KONG SHOULD HOLD A WORLD EXPOSITION IN 1997, THE ADMINISTRATION'S WORKING GROUP, WHILE NOTING THE POSITIVE FEATURES IDENTIFIED, STILL HAS CERTAIN RESERVATIONS OVER PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.

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THESE RESERVATIONS INCLUDE WHETHER RESOURCES SHOULD DIVERTED FROM ESSENTIAL PROJECTS IN ORDER то STAGE EXPO AND ECONOMIC EFFORT OF DOING SO, IMPLICATIONS FOR PLANNED PROJECTS AT SITES SUGGESTED BY THE CONSULTANTS; AND THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

"IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BEAR IN MIND THAT IN THE PERIOD UP то AND BEYOND 1997, HONG KONG IS LIKELY TO BE HEAVILY COMMITTED TO A NUMBER OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS WHICH WOULD BE OF LONG-LASTING BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

THESE PROJECTS ARE:

THE NEW AIRPORT.

MAJOR NEW PORT FACILITIES.

THE TRUNK ROAD, BRIDGES AND TUNNELS NECESSARY TO NEW FACILITIES.

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THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 15-YEAR PLAN TO BUILD 960,000 NEW HOMES BY THE YEAR 2001.

MAJOR NEW RECLAMATIONS AROUND THE HARBOUR.

A MAJOR ROAD ROUTE FROM THE CHINESE BORDER ΤΟ HONG KONG ISLAND VIA WEST KOWLOON.

SUBSTANTIAL WORKS FOR SEWAGE AND FLOOD PROTECTION AS PART OF A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME.

"THESE PROGRAMMES WILL FULLY STRETCH THE MATERIAL, EQUIPMENT

AND LABOUR RESOURCES OF THE TERRITORY.

"WHILE EXPO IS AN ATTRACTIVE IDEA IN PRINCIPLE, THE MAJOR QUESTION WHICH MUST BE ASKED IS WHETHER IT WOULD BE TO THE OVERALL BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO DIVERT FINANCIAL AND MANPOWER RESOURCES FROM THESE ESSENTIAL PROJECTS TO AN EXPO WHICH, HOWEVER DESIRABLE, COULD NOT BE REGARDED AS ESSENTIAL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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