XN000022-1992-06-24 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1992

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MR HURD: I DO NOT THINK THAT THE NEW GOVERNOR WILL WANT TO RUSH TO CONCLUSIONS ON THESE MATTERS AS SOON AS HE TAKES OVER. HE WOULD BE WISE TO WANT I AM SURE THAT HE WILL WANT TO CONSULT WIDELY AFTER ARRIVAL, TO WEIGHT UP ALL THE FACTORS AND THEN TO PUT HIS ADVICE TO ME. THAT WILL TAKE TIME. I WOULD NOT EXPECT CONCLUSIONS ON THE KIND OF MATTERS THAT MY RIGHT HON FRIEND MENTIONED TO EMERGE UNTIL THE AUTUMN AT THE EARLIEST.

ON THE SPECIFIC POINT CONCERNING THE 1995 LEGCO ELECTIONS, WE HAVE SAID THAT WE SHALL BE DISCUSSING THOSE ELECTIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE WITH THE AIM OF ENSURING AS MUCH CONTINUITY AS POSSIBLE. DECISIONS ON ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF SUCH DISCUSSIONS: THEY ARE, I THINK, SOME WAY OFF.

OPENING HOURS AT BORDER EXTENDED

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HONG KONG AND THE SHENZHEN AUTHORITIES HAVE AGREED TO EXTEND THE OPENING HOURS AT BORDER CROSSINGS TO FACILITATE THE GROWING AMOUNT OF CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC.

THE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FOLLOWING TALKS IN SHENZHEN BETWEEN THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR WILLIAM EHRMAN, AND THE VICE MAYOR OF SHENZHEN, MR ZHANG HONGYI.

UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM JULY 1, THE OPENING HOURS AT LO WU WILL BE FROM 7 AM TO 11 PM. FOR MAN KAM TO, THE OPENING HOURS WILL BE FROM 7 AM TO 10 PM FOR GOODS VEHICLES AND 7 AM TO 8 PM FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES.

THE OPENING HOURS AT SHA TAU KOK WILL BE FROM 7 AM TO 6 PM, AND THE OPENING HOURS FOR GOODS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES AT LOK MA CHAU WILL BE FROM 7 AM TO 8 PM.

FOR GOODS VEHICLES, THE OPENING HOUR AT LOK MA CHAU WILL BE FURTHER EXTENDED TO 7 AM 10 PM FROM DECEMBER 1.

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THE TWO SIDES AGREED TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN ANTI-SMUGGLING AND ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WORK.

CO-OPERATION ON

THE TWO SIDES ALSO AGREED THAT THE SHENZHEN RIVER WORKING GROUP SHOULD COMMENCE ITS WORK.

THE WORKING GROUP WILL CONCENTRATE ON THREE CONTROL ENGINEERING WORKS, REVIEWING THE COST OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

AREAS: THE FLOOD THE PROJECT, AND

FURTHER STRENGTHEN

THE TWO SIDES EXCHANGED VIEWS ON HOW ΤΟ ECONOMIC LINKS AND AGREED THAT TRADE ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO INCREASE THEIR ECONOMIC LINKS WITH SHENZHEN.

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