UNTIVERIAL TRA
3
7..
Mr. McLaren acknowledged the importance the Shenzhen side attached to this crossing point. Whilst the bridge itself was a relatively straight forward matter, the construction of access road and the related customs and immigration facilities made it a more complicated and expensive project for the Hong Kong side. Land resumption was also a lengthy and costly process. The Hong Kong authorities would actively seek to accelerate the project as quickly as possible, but the target dates set by Mr. Zhen simply could not be achieved.
8.
cry
Mr. MacPherson elaborated the budgeting constraints, indicating that the total cost of the STK crossing-point project was in the region of HK$40 million. Under pressure from Mr. Zhen to give a feasible target for completion, however, Mr. MacPherson estimated that the very fastest possible time in which the relevant land could be resumed was 4 months. If the access road and control facilities could be built simultaneously, this would take a further 12 months. Thus, the earliest possible date for completion was between 16 and 18 months from now.
9.
Mr. McLaren emphasised that this was the very best progress that could be made by according the project high priority and provided everything went smoothly. Given the importance attached to it by Shenzhen, the Hong Kong side would ensure co-oper- ation to the greatest extent possible for the speediest completion date.
Lok Ma Chau
10.
Mr. McLaren noted the steady progress made by the joint working group in reaching agreement on the alignment of the new bridge and its general design. From Hong Kong's point of view, good progress had been made.
Ferry Services across Mirs Bay
11.
Mr. Zhen said that construction of a ferry pier or a promontory between Da/Xiao Meisha had started 1 month ago and would be finshed in August. Accommodation for 200 overnight visitors exists at Xiao Meisha and by October this will have been expanded to 400 beds. Mr. Zhen said that it was difficult to estimate how many day-trippers would be attracted to the resorts, although the beaches themselves could easily handle over 1,000. Once the SEZ's northern boundary was in force, there would be free access between the resorts and other parts of the SEZ i.e. full immigration and customs controls would be maintained for visitors from Hong Kong.
12.
Mr. McLaren explained the difficulty of finding quickly a suitable ferry pier at the Hong Kong end of the proposed ferry services. Because of the distances involved, the only reasonable location was in the vicinity of Ma Liu Shui. A permanent pier would be developed at this site, but it would not be available until 1986 (after completion of the Shatin-Taipo aterial road). The problem was finding a suitable site for a temporary pier and although this had not yet been identified, the Hong Kong side were working hard to find an answer.
CONFIDENTIAL & 3
/13.