May 28 (Bloomberg) -- London Mayor Boris Johnson has begun a review into whether to shut the city's six overseas offices in a new move to distance himself from predecessor Ken Livingstone.

The offices in India, China and Brussels, along with a consultant in Moscow, cost 1.4 million pounds ($2.8 million) a year and were opened by Livingstone to encourage trade and tourism.

Johnson, a Conservative member of Parliament, defeated Livingstone, a two-term Labour mayor, in a May 1 election. Johnson has spent the last four weeks assembling his City Hall management team and scrapping Livingstone projects such as a Venezuelan oil agreement and a promotional newspaper. The city will review whether the overseas offices offer value.

``This process will take a serious look at whether taxpayers' money is being spent wisely and in the interests of Londoners,'' said Ian Clement, deputy mayor, in an e-mailed statement today.

Johnson said on May 25 that the city would close its office in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and end an oil supply agreement with the country. Livingstone and President Hugo Chavez signed the deal last year.

Livingstone opened the city's offices in Mumbai and Delhi during a trip to India last year and spoke about the need to establish closer links with the world's fastest-growing economies. He planned to travel this year to China, where the city has offices in Beijing and Shanghai.

The City of London, the separate local government unit that runs the U.K. capital's financial district, has offices in India, China and Brussels and the British government operates overseas trade units in those places.

Johnson ended publication of the Londoner, a monthly promotional newspaper distributed by City Hall.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Lysaght in London at blysaght@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 28, 2008 06:00 EDT