XN000022-1996-05-27 — Page 7

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Government response on Western Corridor Railway project

In response to press enquiries on the western Corridor Railway (WCR) project. a government spokesman said:

"The Liaison Office received the Preparatory Committee's invitation to brief the Economic Sub-group on the WCR project at the latter's third meeting in Zhuhai about two weeks before the event.

"The Sub-group was informed about ten days before the meeting that Hong Kong Government would be happy to brief the Sub-group at a future meeting as Secretary for Transport had already got prior engagements on the dates proposed and could not change the arrangements.

"The Sub-group subsequently requested that the briefing be given by KCRC instead of Secretary for Transport. However this was not possible because the day clashed with the KCRC board meeting (this morning) which the Chairman and his Executive Directors had to attend.

"In earlier discussions with the Government regarding the question of briefings on the WCR Project, the KCRC management view was that given that the project was the responsibility of the Government and KCRC was only tasked by the Government to make a proposal, it would be more appropriate for the briefing to be given by the Transport Branch and supported by KCRC.

"The PC Secretariat has therefore been asked to let us know the date of the next meeting of the Sub-group as soon as possible to enable early arrangements for the briefing to be made. Hong Kong Government stand ready to brief the Economic Sub- group on this project."

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CJ to visit Beijing

The Chief Justice, Sir Ti Liang Yang, will, at the invitation of the Chinese Judges' Association, pay a three-day visit to Beijing. The visit aims to enhance mutual understanding between Hong Kong judges and their counterparts in China.

night.

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Sir Ti Liang will depart tomorrow (Tuesday) morning and return on Thursday