TNAG-1735-FCO40-2448-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 39

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL · - 25 May 1988

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CRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE Services and INFORMATION: Sir, it is clearly recognised that it is the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government to assess the feasibility or otherwise of the proposal first. Meanwhile, the British Government has not taken a view on the proposal.

MR. SOHMEN: Sir, I realise it is early days, but the most important prerequisite for an Expo is sufficient land space and that is perennially short in Hong Kong. Is the Government confident that this basic requirement can be met before time and effort is spent on the investigation of all the other aspects?

SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION: Sir, among the subjects that are being studied by the group under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary is the question of the site and that point will certainly be addressed.

MRS. FAN: Sir, the Secretary has made it quite clear to us that the difference between a bid which is a detailed proposal, and the registration of the interest. He has also made it quite clear that no official notification of Hong Kong's interest has been made. May I ask what harm would it do if the British Government is requested to register officially an interest on behalf of Hong Kong, but with no commitment?

SECRETARY FOR Administrative ServiceS AND INFORMATION: Sir, it is not a question of harm or no harm being done. Rather, it is a question of finding the appropriate point in time at which an interest should be registered. As I stated earlier in my first reply, the bureau is aware of our interest. We are undertaking a feasibility study within Government. As soon as it becomes clear that this project is feasible, further steps will be taken.

MR. EDWARD Ho: Sir, the Secretary has mentioned that there is a sufficiently long time until 1991 in which to examine in depth the feasibility of the proposal. Is the Secretary aware that by 1991 we must have ready the formal bid which includes a total package of design and other various proposals? Therefore, in fact, we do not have that much time for the feasibility study, consultation, preparation of detailed proposals and designs.

SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION: Sir, I do apologise if I did not make myself clear when I made a reference to 1991. I had meant to say that 1991 was the absolute deadline and that 31 May 1988 was not the deadline. Somewhere in between, obviously, if we wish to do anything, these things will be done during that period, not necessarily in 1991.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Sir, can an assurance be given by the Secretary that every effort will be made to complete the feasibility study within the next 12 to 18 months, which seems to me to be a reasonable period in view of the latest date for registration being 1991?