XN000022-1980-01-17 — Page 5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1980

ALTHOUGH THE NEW TRAIN OFFERS SOME IMPROVED FACILITIES OVER THE EXISTING THROUGH TRAIN, THE SINGLE JOURNEY FARE FROM KOWLOON TO GUANGZHOU WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED AT $54.40 PLUS $5 SERVICE CHARGE TO CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO ACT AS THE SOLE AGENT.

CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND TEN, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, WILL ONLY HAVE TO PAY HALF FARE. ONE CHILD UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT CAN TRAVEL FREE.

THERE WILL ALSO BE A FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE OF 20 KILOGRAMMES FOR EACH PASSENGER WHICH THEY CAN CARRY WITH THEM INTO THE COMPARTMENTS. EXCESSIVE BAGGAGE WILL HAVE TO BE CONVEYED IN THE LUGGAGE VAN WITH ADDITIONAL CHARGES ACCORDING TO WEIGHT.

TICKETS CAN BE BOOKED AT THE CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE OFFICES IN WAN CHAI AND TSIM SHA TSUI.

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT LIKE THE FIRST EXPRESS TRAIN, ONLY THREE CATEGORIES OF PASSENGERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE NEW SERVICE

* HOLDERS OF PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA PASSPORTS WITH

VISAS FOR HONG KONG=

*

FOREIGNERS (I.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.

AS A RESULT OF THE ADDITIONAL THROUGH TRAIN, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE TIMINGS OF SOME LOCAL TRAINS BETWEEN KOWLOON AND LO WỤ WILL BE MARGINALLY ADJUSTED.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ADDED THAT AS A MATTER OF INTEREST, A RECORD 5 032 897 PEOPLE TRAVELLED TO AND FROM CHINA LAST YEAR A 95 PER CENT INCREASE OVER 1978.

APPLICATIONS INVITED TO OPERATE NEW MAXICAB ROUTES

*****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE INVITING APPLICATIONS FROM REGISTERED OWNERS OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES FOR THE RIGHT TO OPERATE 10 MAXICAB ROUTES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR.

THESE ROUTES WILL BE GROUPED INTO SIX SEPARATE PACKAGES WITH FARES RANGING FROM $1.50 TO 40 CENTS.

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT APPLICATIONS MUST BE MADE ON THE APPROPRIATE APPLICATION FORM ENTITLED APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUS MAXICAB ROUTES+.

THESE FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY), FROM EITHER THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, SIXTH FLOOR, GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, HONG KONG OR FROM THE KOWLOON LICENSING OFFICE, PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, NINTH FLOOR, 56 DUNDAS STREET.

/COMPLETED