XN000022-1983-09-01 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1983

ACTING GOVERNOR TOURS BORDER

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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY VISITED SHA TAU KOK FOR AN ON-THE-SPOT BRIEFING ON DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FOR THE BORDER VILLAGE AREA.

INCLUDED AMONG THE PROPOSALS ARE A CROSS BORDER VEHICULAR LINK TO BE BUILT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND REDEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE VILLAGE ITSELF, AIMED AT IMPROVING COMMUNITY FACILITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS.

SIR PHILIP WAS BRIEFED ON THE PROPOSALS BY THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STUART HARBINSON, AND THE ACTING PROJECT MANAGER, TAI PO AND FANLING, MR BOB HANNA.

THE NEW BORDER CROSSING WILL BE EFFECTED BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES BUILDING A BRIDGE, AND ON THE HONG KONG SIDE. BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ROAD WITHIN THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREA FROM THE EXISTING SHA TAU KOK ROAD TO THE NEW BRIDGE, WHICH IS JUST NORTH OF THE SHA TAU KOK VILLAGE.

SIR PHILIP WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS HOPED THAT WORK WOULD START ON THE HONG KONG SIDE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF 1984.

ON VILLAGE REDEVELOPMENT, SIR PHILIP WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRST PHASE PROPOSALS INVOLVED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA FOR UP TO 3 000 PEOPLE, THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND IMPROVED VEHICLE PARKING ARRANGEMENTS.

THIS FIRST PHASE COULD MAKE AN AREA AVAILABLE FOR A RURAL PUBLIC HOUSING SCHEME AT A LATER STAGE. TIMING FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT HAS NOT YET BEEN FIXED, BUT SIR PHILIP WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS HOPED THE FIRST PHASE COULD COMMENCE IN 1984-85, DEPENDING ON THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES AND OTHER PRIORITIES.

THE SHA TAU KOK BRIEFING CAME AT THE END OF A BORDER TOUR WHICH INCLUDED A HELICOPTER FLIGHT OVER LOK MA CHAU AND THE MAI PO MARSHES AND A BRIEFING ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF ARMY AND POLICE UNITS ON ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OPERATIONS,

SIR PHILIP ALSO SAW THE MAN KAM TO BORDER CONTROL POINT AND LO WU STATION, WHERE HE TALKED TO IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS, BEFORE DRIVING TO SHA TAU KOK. HE WAS ACCOMPANIED ON THE EARLIER PART OF THE TOUR BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALAN MASON, THE DEPUTY DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, FRONTIER, MR BENNY NG AND THE DEPUTY COMMANDER GURKHA FIELD FORCE, COLONEL JOHN EDWARDS.

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