XN000022-1979-03-21 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1979

THROUGH TRAIN PASSENGER SERVICE BETWEEN KOWLOON AND GUANGZHOU TO BEGIN ON APRIL 4

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A DIRECT EXPRESS THROUGH TRAIN PASSENGER SERVICE FROM KOWLOON TO GUANGZHOU (CANTON) WILL BEGIN ON APRIL 4.

THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY (BRITISH SECTION), MR. D.M. HOWES ON HIS RETURN FROM GUANGZHOU WHERE HE HAS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FINAL DETAILS OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH OFFICIALS OF THE GUANGZHOU RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION.

MR. HOWES WHO LED A DELEGATION TO GUANGZHOU ON MONDAY DESCRIBED THE AGREEMENT AS A HISTORY MAKING EVENT, POINTING OUT THAT THE LAST THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE WAS IN OCTOBER 1949.

+THIS NEW ADDITIONAL PRESTIGE SERVICE IS MAINLY AIMED AT

THE BUSINESS AND TOURIST COMMUNITY,+MR. HOWES SAID.

HE QUICKLY EMPHASISED THAT ONLY THREE CATEGORIES OF PASSENGERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS NEW SERVICE:

*

HOLDERS OF PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA PASSPORTS WITH VISAS FOR HONG KONG-

* FOREIGNERS (1.E. HOLDERS OF OTHER PASSPORTS) WHO EITHER

HAVE VISAS FOR HONG KONG OR WHO ARE NATIONALS OF COUNTRIES NOT REQUIRING VISAS FOR HONG KONG AND,

*

HOLDERS OF HONG KONG RE-ENTRY PERMITS.

THE TRAIN FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED WITH A DINING CAR AND BUFFET WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE GUANGZHOU RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION,

+IT'S A FIRST CLASS SERVICE COMPLETE WITH RECLINING CHAIRS. IT CAN SEAT 600 PEOPLE. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR STANDING,+ MR. HOWES SAID.

AS TO THE TRAIN'S TIMETABLE, MR. HOWES SAID THAT THE TRAIN WHICH WILL COMPRISE 10 PASSENGER COACHES, ONE MAIL VAN, ONE RESTAURANT CAR AND ONE AIR-CONDITIONING POWER UNIT -- WILL OPERATE ONE SERVICE EACH WAY DAILY, LEAVING GUANZHOU AT 8.30 A.M. AND ARRIVING AT THE HUNG HOM TERMINAL AT 11.28 A.M. IT WILL DEPART FROM HUNG HOM AT 1 P.M. AND ARRIVE AT GUANGZHOU AT 3.54 P.M.

THE ONE-WAY FARE IS $50 AND TICKETS CAN BE BOOKED AND RESERVED IN ADVANCE AT ALL CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE BRANCHES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.

BECAUSE OF THE TIGHT TURN-AROUND TIME OF ONE AND A HALF HOURS. MR. HOWES URGED ALL DEPARTING PASSENGERS TO CHECK IN AT LEAST ONE HOUR BEFORE THE TRAIN LEAVES HUNG HOM.

/THE TIMETABLE