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3. WE HAVE SAID THAT WE SEE NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE TO THE
PROPOSED FERRY SERVICE. INDEED, WE SEE CONSIDERABLE ADVANTAGES
IN TERMS OF DEMONSTRATING RELAXED RELATIONS WITH CANTON AND
ENSURING THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR PORT OF ENTRY FOR
CHINA'S GROWING TOURIST TRADE. WE ALSO SEE ADVANTAGE IN ANY
FERRY SERVICE BEING OPERATED BY HONG KONG YAUMATI FERRIES, WHO ARE
SOUND MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN E.G. ONE OF
THE LEFT WING DOMINATED MACAU FERRY OPERATORS WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN
LOOKING FOR SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES. THERE ARE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
STILL TO BE DEALT WITH, SUCH AS IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ARRANGE-
MENTS. WE ARE NOW LOOKING INTO THEM BUT DO NOT SEE ANY INSUPERABLE
OBSTACLES.
4. MEANWHILE, THE FORMAL POSITION IS THAT NO APPLICATION TO RUN
A NEW FERRY SERVICE HAS YET BEEN RECEIVED. WE ARE SAYING THIS
IN REPLY TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ARISING FROM E.G. AN ARTICLE IN
THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST ON 16 JUNE WHICH REPORTED THE
HOVER-FERRY'S VISIT TO CANTON AND SPECULATED THAT IT WAS A TRIAL
RUN FOR A FERRY SERVICE.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD (6)
FED
MARD
TRED
MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY MR STRATTON
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
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