ROZAFY
VISIT OF LORD GLENARTHUR TO HONG KONG: 29 JUNE-1 JULY 1988
BRIEF NO 15: PROPOSED WORLD EXHIBITION IN HONG KONG IN 1997
Objectives
1.
To maintain in public a non committal position while avoiding the impression that HMG are seeking to impose a veto on the idea.
To seek the Governor's
2
proposal.
Views
on
the
recent developments over If necessary to repeat in private to the Governor HMG's very strong reservations about the proposal and our desire that it should not go ahead.
3. To avoid any commitment to take up the idea on Hong Kong's behalf with the BIE or with the Chinese.
4.
[If necessary]
To make clear in public that the UK's vote for the BIE rules amendment limiting the frequency of world exhibitions does not destroy Hong Kong's chance of hosting an Expo in 1997.
Points to make
[With Governor]
As you know, we have profound doubts about practicability and advisability of project. How is your feasibility assessment of the project going?
Your assessment of extent of public interest in the idea? it likely to run? We have impression that enthusiam may not be tempered by greater realism
Is
As you know we have serious reservations about the project. Recent experience has made us and other governments very concerned
Hence amendment to BI about the cost and frequency of such events.
rules passed by General Assembly of BIE (still subject to ratification by member countries) on 31 May to control scale and
frequency.
Recognise, however, it is important to avoid impression of "veto" from London.
CONFIDENTIAL
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