FRIDAL, KUPEMERIA 29,
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW HONG KONG-MACAU FERRY TERMINAL, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN HONG KONG'S COMMUNICATION LINKS WITH MACAU.
THE NUMBER OF FERRY PASSENGERS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND MACAU HAD RISEN STEADILY FROM LESS THAN TWO MILLION IN 1964 TO ALMOST NINE MILLION LAST YEAR.
SIR EDWARD SAID THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES TO SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WAS A CHALLENGING TASK.
+THIS NEW TERMINAL, EQUIPPED AS IT IS WITH THE MOST ADVANCED SYSTEMS OF BERTHING CONTROL, INFORMATION DISPLAYS AND SECURITY SURVEILLANCE, TOGETHER WITH A RANGE OF PASSENGER FACILITIES IN A FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT, MEETS THAT CHALLENGE, HE SAID.
THE NEW TERMINAL WILL COME INTO OPERATION NEXT MONTH.
SIR EDWARD CONGRATULATED THE DIRECTORS OF SHUN TAK CENTRE LIMITED AND THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE FOR THEIR FORESIGHT IN CONCEIVING THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE HARD WORK OF ALL CONCERNED IN BRINGING THE TERMINAL TO COMPLETION.
KCRC KEEPING PACE WITH TRANSPORT NEEDS - SIR DAVID
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THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY HAS SURVIVED THE PASSING OF THE YEARS AND, DESPITE COMPETITION IS DEMONSTRATING ITS SUPERIORITY AGAIN AS A CONVENIENT CARRIER OF GOODS AND PEOPLE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
SPEAKING AT A RECEPTION TO MARK THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RAILWAY SIR DAVID RECALLED THAT IT WAS BUILT AT A TIME WHEN RAILWAYS WERE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ROADS, BUT COMPETITORS HAD EMERGED.
+THIS YEAR IT WILL CARRY 98 MILLION PASSENGERS AND NEARLY THREE MILLION TONS OF FREIGHT (AND INCIDENTALLY ABOUT TWO MILLION PIGS),+ HE SAID.
THE RAILWAY LINKS HONG KONG TO MAINLAND CHINA, AND JOINS WITH THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY TO LINK NEW TOWNS WITH THE OLDER URBAN AREAS.
+ IT IS GOOD TO SEE HOW WELL THE NEW CORPORATION IS DOING AFTER SUCH A SHORT TIME, AND THAT IT IS EXPANDING ITS OPERATION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LIGHT RAILWAY SYSTEM IN THE NORTHWEST OF HONG KONG,+ SIR DAVID SAID,
+ I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT AS THE YEARS GO BY, THERE WILL BE OTHER IDEAS TO KEEP PACE WITH THE EXPANSION OF TRAFFIC BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE REST OF GUANGDONG, HE ADDED.
SIR DAVID THEN CONGRATULATED ALL THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RAILWAY AND ON THE VERSATILITY THEY HAD SHOWN IN ADAPTING TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES OVER 75 YEARS.
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