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7. A DRIVING SCHOOL IN GUANGZHOU FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE
It was reported in June, 1980 that the "Guangzhou Vehicle Drivers Training Centre" (AIA), which aims mainly at admitting compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau, would soon be in operation. This centre is a joint venture of the Guangzhou Municipal Machinery Import and Export Company (
口公司 ), the Guangzhou Municipal Vehicles Repair Factory(ĦÎÄÉ 修理廠 and the Wah Kee Trading Company of Hong Kong (香港華基貿易公司). Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau as well as their relatives in China who are aged between 18 and 45, 1.5 metres or more in height, healthy, having no illness that would affect driving, with eye-sight not lower than 0.7 may apply for admission. Upon completion of their training, all learners will have to undergo a driving test conducted by the Guangzhou Municipal Security Bureau (HHA) and those who pass the test would be issued with a Chinese Authority driving licence which would permit them to drive in any place in China. The centre, situated next to the Tai Sha Tau () railway track, is well- equipped with special training grounds, lecture rooms, and dormitories for learners.
According to an agreement reached early last year when Hong Kong's Commissioner for Transport visited Guangzhou, both sides have agreed to recognise each other's driving licences and Hong Kong's Transport Department has since issued local driving licences to holders of China-issued driving licences without having to go through any test again. However, the Transport Department in practice issues driving licences only to Chinese immigrants holding Chinese driving licences. Hong Kong residents holding a Chinese driving licence are not entitled to such a privilege since the department sees no reason why Hong Kong residents should obtain their driving licences outside Hong Kong, unless they have been away for a long time.
SEA LINKS
1.
GENERAL RELATIONS
A. Speech by Sir Yue-kong Pao
The Chairman of the World-Wide Shipping Group (###), Sir Yue-kong Pao, said at the Far East Trade and Shipping International Maritime Conference last November that since China's implementation of the "Four Modernisations," the flow of goods and services between Hong Kong and China had been increasing substantially.
As far as shipping is concerned, one obvious consequence of these developments is the shift in emphasis of the activities of Chinese shipping companies in Hong Kong. Apart from their traditional role as shipping agents, some of them have more actively engaged in ship purchases recently.
In helping China in its mercantile fleet development, no region seems better placed than Hong Kong. The factors that traditionally encouraged the maritime ties between the places will continue to have relevance.
The political and economic atmosphere surrounding the two places may be far from similar, but expertise in ship operation, in the training of seafarers, in the financing and management of their vessels, all necessary for success in shipping, has something in common that transcends national barrier, and it is basically transferrable.
In effecting a successful transfer of technology there can be no substitute for direct involvement in actual ship operations, and joint venture operations appear as the most viable avenue whereby shipping interests in the two places can co-operate in activities such as joint acquisition of vessels, formation of companies to build containers, tankers, bulk carrier fleets, projects in management and chartering of vessels that allow training for mainland shipping men.
Another important relationship between the places in the shipping area stems from repair and maintenance facilities in Hong Kong for Chinese vessels. Continued expansion of the Chinese fleet can only spell a period of sustained prosperity for this sector of Hong Kong shipping.
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