RESTRICTED
www.
7
Guangdong's construction plans were for the expansion of the road width to 18 metres for the first 48 kilometres out of Guangzhou and for 12 metres on to the Hong Kong border all in tarmac.
C.
Guangzhou-Shenzhen Highway
It was reported on April 6, 1980 that work on improving the highway from Guangzhou to Shenzhen was to commence in May, 1980. The work would be carried out with the help of Hong Kong businessmen and a group of Hong Kong workers would be employed.
Improvement of the highway was necessary because the road was inadequate to cope with the increasing volume of traffic.
A special office to oversee the project was set up by the Guangdong Provincial Government.
A meeting of the office approved an overall plan to completely overhaul the 120 kilometre highway in two years. Two bridges woudl be built at the crossing at Zhongtang and Xintang in three years' time. To date, vehicles still have to be ferried across the rivers at these two places.
The plan envisages revamping the highway in three sections to be undertaken respectively by Guangzhou, Dongguan county (), and the municipality of Shenzhen.
The finished road will be considerably wider and will have an asphalt surface. A group of Hong Kong drivers bringing with them their vehicles will be employed to carry out the work. It is learnt that those employed will sign a five-year contract. Their salary will be fixed initially at $3 000 a month and a further $700 will be paid for providing their own vehicles.
When the construction work is completed, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Highway will be an all-weather thoroughfare.
D.
Lo Wu footbridge
To cope with the ever increasing number of travellers and to alleviate the possible danger of pedestrians being knocked down by passing trains, a new pedestrian footbridge at Lo Wu was jointly built by the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities and was opened on January 14, 1981. The new bridge, which is adjacent to the existing one, is 30 metres long and eight metres wide. All travellers crossing the border to China have to pass through this footbridge while those coming out of China continue to use the existing bridge.
It was learnt that China spent RMB $270 000 to build the section on its side while Hong Kong spent $5.4 million.
Another footbridge will also be built on the other side of the old one. After the completion of the new bridge, the old Lo Wu Bridge will be used exclusively by trains.
6.
GUANGZHOU RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IN HONG KONG
China extended its official representation in Hong Kong by opening a Guangzhou Railway Administration Office here in November, 1980.
The director of the office, Mr. Yang Fei, said the main function of the office was to increase co-operation between the Kowloon-Canton Railway and the Guangzhou Railway Bureau.
Furthermore, the office enables China to stay in close touch with Chinese-owned companies in Hong Kong such as China Resources (A) on matters relating to rail transport.
The Kowloon-Canton Railway will consult with the new office on all operational matters. However, policy discussions will continue to be held with Beijing.
RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.