XN000022-1993-07-23 — Page 4

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LORRY PROTEST AT MAN KAM TO

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1993

DRIVERS

THE GOVERNMENT TONIGHT (FRIDAY) CALLED ON LORRY INVOLVED IN THE MAN KAM TO PROTEST TO CLEAR THEIR VEHICLES SO THAT OTHER MOTORISTS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS COULD GO ABOUT THEIR NORMAL. BUSINESS.

"WHATEVER THEIR GRIEVANCES, THE DRIVERS SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO OTHER ROAD USERS WHOSE LIVELIHOODS COULD BE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

"

HE CATEGORICALLY DENIED CLAIMS BY SOME DRIVERS THAT THERE WERE ONLY A FEW IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS CLEARANCE KIOSKS OPERATING ON THE HONG KONG SIDE.

"WE HAVE MAINTAINED FIVE ARRIVAL AND FIVE DEPARTURE COUNTERS, WHICH IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO MATCH THE FACILITIES ON THE CHINA SIDE, HE SAID.

HE SAID THE INCIDENT STARTED AT 9.40 AM WHEN A DRIVER RETURNING FROM CHINA COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ALLEGED SLOW PROCESSING OF CHINESE CUSTOMS AND STOPPED HIS LORRY AT A ROUNDABOUT NEAR MAN KAM TO. OTHER DRIVERS SOON JOINED HIM, BLOCKING THE ROAD WITH THEIR TRUCKS.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO DIFFUSE THE SITUATION, THE POLICE ARRANGED A MEETING WITH THE BORDER LIAISON OFFICE ON THE CHINESE SIDE, RUT THE DRIVERS FAILED TO ATTEND THE MEETING.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID A GROUP OF OPERATORS AND LORRY OWNERS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON. THEIR ATTEMPT TO PERSUADE THE DRIVERS TO DISCONTINUE THE PROTEST WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

"NOW THAT THE BORDER HAS CLOSED FOR THE NIGHT, WE HOPE THE DRIVERS WILL REMOVE THEIR LORRIES SO THAT NORMAL TRAFFIC CAN RESUME IN THE MORNING," HE SAID.

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SALE OF OVERSEAS TRUST BANK LIMITED

*

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT AGREEMENT HAD NOW BEEN REACHED IN PRINCIPLE WITH GUOCO GROUP LIMITED FOR THE SALE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO IT OF THE ENTIRE ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL OF OVERSEAS TRUST BANK, LIMITED (OTB).

A FORMAL SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE ON OR BEFORE JULY 30 THIS YEAR, AT WHICH TIME A MORE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE.

SIGNED DETAILED

/A GOVERNMENT