STE

TED

S

6.

3

Governor Ye said that, while the peak number of

crossings was 9,000 per day, the average was 7,000, largely

through Man Kam To. The facilities at that point were better on the Hong Kong side. The Chinese were working to extend the

parking area on their side at Man Kam To. The Lok Ma Chau

crossing, when completed, would join with the super highway to

Guangzhou. It was expectd that there would be a considerable

increase in traffic. Construction of the super highway would

be peeded up to meet the demand of traffic diverted from Man

Kam To. It was possible that the highway might be completed in

one or two years.

7.

Sir David Wilson agreed that pressure at Man Kam To

was very heavy. Logically traffic should be attracted to the

alternative crossing at Sha Tau Kok at peak periods. The

Chinese tunnel at Wu tung Shan was an impressive piece of engineering and a useful link between Sha Tau Kok and Shenzhen

city but it was also very expensive. This might deter lorry

drivers from using that route. Governor Ye said that he did

not think that many heavy vehicles would choose to travel via

Sha Tau Kok because this involved an extra 25 kilometre

journey. The focus in future would be on Man Kam To and Lok Ma

Chau.

Sir David Wilson pointed out that time was money and it

still might be worth transport operators' while to send trucks

round the extra distance rather than wait for two hours at Man

Kam To.

ECVII'S

8.

Sir D Wilson raised the question of refugees from

Vietnam settled in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces who had

entered Hong Kong. We were grateful for Chinese cooperation

which had resulted in a quick resolution of the problem,

following discussions in August. Most ECVII's had been sent

back. The groups due to be returned to Guangxi by ship had

been delayed because of the weather. There were 250 persons

whose position was still under investigation.

We hoped that

/procedures

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