XN000022-1979-03-21 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1979

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THE TIMETABLE HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO CONNECT, ON DEPARTURE FROM GUANGZHOU, WITH THE OVERNIGHT EXPRESS FROM PEKING, AND ON RETURN IN THE EVENING THE LAST FLIGHT FROM GUANGZHOU TO PEKING IN THE EVENING.

THE CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION PROCESSING AREA WILL BE HOUSED IN PART OF THE SOUTHERN CONCOURSE OF THE TERMINAL.

+BECAUSE THIS IS JUST A TEMPORARY FACILITY, PASSENGERS MAY EXPERIENCE SOME INCONVENIENCE. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION WILL BE RECTIFIED WHEN THE WHOLE OF THE SOUTHERN CONCOURSE CAN BE USED NEXT YEAR,+ MR. HOWES SAID.

HE ADDED THAT PLATFORM 6 HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR THE THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE AND FOR THIS REASON, THE PUBLIC WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IT WHILE THE TRAIN IS IN THE STATION.

MR. HOWES ALSO STRESSED THAT TEST RUNS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OPERATIONAL SAFETY MATTERS HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

THERE WILL BE A FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE OF 20 KILOGRAMMES FOR EACH PASSENGER WHICH THEY CAN CARRY WITH THEM INTO THE COMPARTMENTS. ANYTHING ABOVE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE STORED IN THE LUGGAGE VAN WITH A NOMINAL CHARGE FOR EXCESS BAGGAGE.

+CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND 10 WILL ONLY HAVE TO PAY HALF FARE. ONE CHILD UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT CAN TRAVEL FREE, MR. HOWES SAID.

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ON THE THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE AS A WHOLE, MR. HOWES SAID THAT NOT ONLY DOES IT HALVE THE PRESENT TRAVELLING TIME -- THREE HOURS ONLY-- BUT IT WILL OFFER A CITY CENTRE TO CITY CENTRE SERVICE WITH CONVENIENT CONNECTIONS FOR TRAINS AND FLIGHTS IN CHINA.

+THIS SHOULD MAKE THE RAIL SERVICE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORT OPERATING BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES FOR THE EXECUTIVE AND TOURIST SECTOR OF THE MARKET. +

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TAKES OVER 12 SPECIAL CENTRES

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE SPENDING ABOUT $8.2 MILLION ANNUALLY TO BRING ALL ASPECTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED INTO THE CODE OF AID AND TO EXPAND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CARE IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

FROM APRIL 1 THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF ALL MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IRRESPECTIVE OF THE IR DEGREE OF HANDICAP.

THIS SERVICE