TNAG-1748-FCO40-2467-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 132

ARPAJA

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HONG KONG: 29-31 MAY 1988

BRIEF NO 17: PROPOSED WORLD EXHIBITION IN HONG KONG IN 1997

Objectives

1.

To make clear in private to the Governor HMG's very strong reservations about the proposal and our desire that it should not

go ahead.

2.

To maintain in public a non committal position while avoiding the impression that HMG are seeking to impose a veto on the idea.

3. To avoid any commitment to take up the idea on Hong Kong's behalf with the BIE or with the Chinese.

Points to make

[with Governor]

As you know, we have profound doubts about practicability and advisability of project.

Our worries relate to obvious logistical and political difficulties, and also to financial implications (which could be considerable)

Our recent experience of World Exhibition has made us very concerned indeed about the cost and frequency of such events: we and other governments are seeking through the BIE to control their scale and frequency.

Any implication of HMG's backing for the idea of a Hong Kong EXPO would tend to undermine our general strategy, to which we attach great importance.

-

Costs of HMG participation would fall to FCO budget.

London.

Recognise it is essential to avoid impression of "veto" from

Equally important that consideration in Hong Kong of

practicability of idea should reach the conclusion that idea is non-

starter.

Governor's assessment of extent of public interest in the

idea? Is it likely to run?

CONFIDENTIAL