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GR 2245
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 111125Z JAN 79
TO PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.84 OF 11 JANUARY,
Akk173/1
RESSIVA CERCA ↑ NO. 31 17 JAN 0
Note
See (13
INFO PRIORITY: F.C.0 AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
MY TELNO.44: THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE TO CANTON.
1. HOWES, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KCR, RETURNED FROM CANTON TODAY.
HE HELD TALKS WITH THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE GUANGDONG (KWANGTUNG) RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION. THE DIRECTOR WAS IN PEKING.
THE ATMOSPHERE WAS VERY FRIENDLY AND THERE WERE USEFUL DISCUSSIONS ON FREIGHT SERVICES AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL PASSENGER SERVICES OVER
THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
2. SURPRISINGLY, THE CANTON RAILWAY PEOPLE SAID THAT, ALTHOUGH
THEY HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR A THROUGH TRAIN
SERVICE, THEY HAD NOT YET RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM ''HIGHER AUTHORITY'' TO INITIATE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS. IT WAS THEREFORE LEFT THAT THERE WOULD BE SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS LATER ABOUT THE
THROUGH TRAIN.
3. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THERE IS A CHINESE BUREAUCRATIC BLOCKAGE,
PROBABLY BETWEEN PEKING AND CANTON. NC NA EXPRESSED SURPRISE
AT THE INFORMATION IN PARA,2 BUT LATER CONFIRMED THAT CANTON WANTED SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS LATER.
CONFIDENTIAL
14. WE WILL
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