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(Ming Pao: September 14)
The Hong Kong Yaumati and Ferry Company and the Shun Tak Shipping Company have been engaged in a close contest for the right to operate a ferry service between Hong Kong and Canton.
Hong Kong and Macau business circles believe that the Kwangtung authorities
will not give the operation right to two companies.
However, business sources close to China said the dirctors of the Shun Tak Shipping Company have had good relations with the Chinese authorities for a long time.
But the general public naturally hope that the route will be operated by two companies as competition will bring about improvement.
(South China Morning Post: September 14)
A Hoverferry service between Hongkong and Canton will probably begin before the end of the year, sources said last night.
This follows a second round of talks between the general manager of the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Co., Mr. Edmond Lau, and authorities in Canton on Monday.
Mr. Lau returned yesterday by train and sources said he is expected to leave for Britain at the end of the week for negotiations on the purchase of more hoverferries.
(Ta Kung Pao: September 23)
The hovercraft service between Hong Kong and Canton operated by the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company is expected to start on November 15.
This was confirmed by Mr. Kwok Yan-kit, officer-in-charge of the Kwangtung Navigation Bureau and Mr. Wong Wah-man, the executive officer in an interview with our correspondent.
It was learnt that in the initial stages there would be three round- trips a day and that the 69 nautical-mile trip would take two hours from Hong Kong to Whampoa. A single one-way ticket was expected to cost $60, and could be booked at the China Travel Services. Each hovercraft had the capacity of carrying 60 passengers.
The officials said that about 40 - 45 minutes after departure from Hong Kong, Chinese pilots and customs officers would board the vessel at the mouth of the Pearl River, at Tai Chan Island, (opposite Shea Hou) and accompany it for the rest of the journey.
The authorities also revealed that there were plans to operate a night ferry service from Canton to Hong Kong. The ferries would be similar in size to the "Chun Shan" but they would carry more passengers. The journey would take six hours. Passengers boarding the ferry in Hong Kong would arrive in Canton the next morning, and any one in a hurry could return the same night from Canton arriving the following morning at Hong Kong.
The officials added that there were plans also for a new terminal to
be built later in Canton, for the ferry services.
(South China Morning Post: September 24)
The newspaper
* said the hoverferries will be berthed at Whampoa. about 30 minutes' drive from Canton.
It quoted the officials as saying that China also plans to operate ferry services to Hongkong.
The size of the Chinese ferries would be similar to those presently on the Hongkong-Macau run.
Meanwhile, in a carefully-worded press release, the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company yesterday "confirmed" that Mr. Lau was in Canton recently to discuss matters relating to the operation of ferry services between the two places.
(*Ta Kung Pao)
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