XN000022-1975-06-13 — Page 6

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1975

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MAIL HANDLING FACILITIES AT HUNG HOM RAILWAY TERMINUS

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MAIL BAG HANDLING FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE NEW HUNG HOM RAILWAY TERMINUS FOR RAIL-BORNE MAIL TO AND FROM CHINA.

THE NEW FACILITIES, WHICH WILL BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RAILWAY STATION NEAR THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TOLL PLAZA, WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE THOSE AT TSIM SHA TSUI,

THE PROJECT INVOLVES CONSTRUCTION OF A RAIL LOADING PLATFORM, AN OPEN YARD AND A THREE-STOREY BUILDING WHICH WILL PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE STORAGE OF MAIL BAGS AWAITING DESPATCH.

THE NEW FACILITIES ARE DESIGNED TO COPE WITH THE GROWING VOLUME OF MAIL CARRIED BY TRAINS.

LAST YEAR, THE POST OFFICE DESPATCHED MORE THAN 250,000 MAIL BAGS BY TRAIN TO CHINA, WHILE 180,000 MAIL BAGS ARRIVED BY RAIL FROM CHINA FOR LOCAL OR ONWARD DELIVERIES.

WORK ON THE NEW FACILITIES AT HUNG HOM IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN AUSUST FOR COMPLETION IN JANUARY 1976. TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE INVITED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE.

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WORK TO START SHORTLY ON KAI TAK CAR PARK

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WORK WILL START NEXT MONTH ON THE FIRST PART OF A GIANT PODIUM, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME THE BASE OF A MULTI- STOREY CAR PARK PROVIDING 1,400 PARKING SPACES OPPOSITE THE KAI TAK TERMINAL BUILDING.

THE PROJECT, PART OF THE LONG-TERM KAI TAK TERMINAL BUILDING MODIFICATIONS STAGE IV DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, INVOLVES THE BUILDING OF A 300-FOOT LONG ACCESS RAMP AND PART OF THE 60,000-SQUARE-FOOT PODIUM LEADING TO THE EXISTING UPPER DRIVEWAY OUTSIDE THE DEPARTURE HALL. THE RAMP WILL PROVIDE TEMPORARY VEHICULAR ACCESS TO THE DEPARTURE HALL SO THAT THE PRESENT DRIVEWAY CAN BE DEMOLISHED TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND PART OF THE PODIUM.

WHEN COMPLETED, THE PODIUM WITH ITS NETWORK OF VEHICULAR RAMPS WILL CONSIDERABLY IMPROVE TRAFFIC TO THE TERMINAL BUILDING FROM THE EXTERNAL ROAD SYSTEM, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE SAID TODAY.

TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST ACCESS RAMP AND PART OF THE PODIUM ARE INVITED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE. WORK ON THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT MONTH AND SHOULD TAKE ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

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