V:
SALAHJ
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PROPOSED WORLD EXHIBITION IN HONG KONG IN 1997
1. Why HMG decline to give proposal their full support?
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It would be premature and inappropriate for us to take a firm view
on the idea before its feasibility has been established. We must first await the outcome of the examination of the feasibility of the proposal which is being undertaken in Hong Kong.
2.
Why did HMG not formally register Hong Kong's potential interest at BIE meeting on 31 May
The Bureau is already aware of Hong Kong's interest in hosting an exhibition in 1997. No further notification is therefore necessary at this stage. The meeting on 31 May was the Bureau's twice-yearly General Meeting and was in no sense the deadline fo the submission
of bids.
4.
HMG's policy on exhibitions generally
We are very conscious of the cost of participating in world exhibitions and hope that the number of exhibitions can be limited
in future. We are supporting proposals before the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) which would limit future exhibitions to one every five years. This does not preclude the staging of an exhibition in Hong Kong in 1997.
5. Views of Chinese Government
Since the consideration of the feasibility of the project is at such a preliminary stage, no approach has yet been made to the Chinese
Government.
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