Vaque
reques
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3 -
to build up trade through Hong Kong, the relative uncer-
tainties of the timing of reclamations and of the availa-
bility of land for godowns will certainly make their
planning very difficult. From the Government's point
of view, however, the vagueness of Chinese plans makes
it very hard to adjust our planning to their needs. The
present position is that :
(i) Government has turned down all requests
(ii)
(iii)
for private treaty grants of private
waterfront and godown land, but has
given the China Merchants Steam Naviga-
tion Co. Ltd. and the China Resources
Company indications of where Public Cargo
Handling Areas will be available and where
godown lots will be sold by auction; it
has not formally responded to a request
for a container terminal.
The companies have agreed to try to answer
a questionnaire on their plans for future
expansion which has been sent to them,
through their solicitors, by the Director
of Marine. It is hoped that, by this means,
the Government will acquire a little more
information to help it with its own planning.
China Merchants Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
is known to have reserved the whole of the
south-west corner of the Sz Hau Peninsula
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