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TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1986
AT TODAY'S MEETING, MEMBERS WERE ALSO INFORMED OF THE
PROGRESS OF THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM.
IN A PROGRESS REPORT PRESENTED TO THE TAC, IT WAS RECAPPED THAT CONTRACT FOR PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT, MADE UP OF 22.5 KILOMETRES OF TRACK, WAS AWARDED IN AUGUST 1985.
WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED ON THE GROUND AND THE SYSTEM
IS SCHEDULED TO START OPERATION IN AUGUST 1988.
MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT SINCE THE SECOND PHASE OF THE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO TIE IN WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF TIN SHUI WAI, THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION WAS PLANNING TO APPOINT CONSULTANTS TO STUDY THE PROGRAMME SHORTLY.
IN VIEW OF PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE LINKING UP OF THE LRT WITH TSUEN WAN, THE CORPORATION WILL ASK THE CONSULTANTS TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE LRT TO THE METROPOLITAN AREA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
PLANS FOR NEW HK OFFICE IN SAN FRANCISCO
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A PROPOSAL TO STRENGTHEN HONG KONG'S REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO COUNTER THE RECENT GROWTH IN PROTECTIONIST SENTIMENTS WILL BE PUT BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE PLAN INCLUDES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND THE PROVISION OF AN ADDITIONAL DIRECTORATE OFFICER FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN WASHINGTON.
SAN FRANCISCO HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE LOCATION FOR THE NEW OFFICE BECAUSE IT IS THE ACCEPTED COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL CENTRE FOR THE UNITED STATES' TWO-WAY TRADE WITH THE PACIFIC RIM, HAS A RANGE OF WELL ESTABLISHED COMMERCIAL AND TRADE ORGANISATIONS, AND IS GENERALLY MORE INTERNATIONALLY ORIENTED BECAUSE OF ITS TRADITIONALLY STRONGER TIES WITH THE PACIFIC RIM.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICE THERE WILL ENABLE A FULLER AND BETTER REPRESENTATION OF HONG KONG'S INTERESTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE NEW OFFICE, IF APPROVED, WILL BE HEADED BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE C, WHO WILL BE SUPPORTED BY A SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND A PRINCIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER.
/FOR THE ...