TNAG-0854-FCO40-1064-The-Kowloon-Canton-Railway-1979 — Page 81

CONFIDENTIAL

4. HOWES, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, HAS A

LONG-STANDING ARRANGEMENT TO GO TO CANTON FOR REGULAR TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS ON 8 JANUARY. FOLLOWING THE ABOVE DISCUSSION, P A CONFIRMED THAT HE WOULD BE AUTHORISED TO DISCUSS, AD REFERENDUM,

HE ADDED THAT, TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR A THROUGH TRAIN SERVICE.

BECAUSE OF THE PRACTICAL MATTERS TO BE ARRANGED, HE THOUGHT IT HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A SERVICE COULD BE STARTED BEFORE LUNAR NEW YEAR. WHEN IT WAS STARTED HE SAW NO REASON WHY IT SHOULD NOT BE ON A REGULAR, RATHER THAN A TRIAL, BASIS.

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WE WILL REPORT FURTHER AFTER HOWES RETURNS ON 10 JANUARY. HOWEVER WELL THE DISCUSSIONS GO IT WILL, FOR PRACTICAL REASONS, BE QUITE IMPOSSIBLE TO START A SERVICE AS SOON AS LUNAR NEW YEAR AND HOWES WILL SAY SO IN CANTON.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK & GD (6)

FED

MAED

TRED

FS

FS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

PS/FUS

SIR A DUFF

MR MURRAY

MR STRATTON MR CORTAZZI

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CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LONDON

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