TNAG-1268-FCO40-1617-China-s-economic-relationship-with-Hong-Kong-Shenzhen-econom-1983 — Page 182

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Liaison for Travel During Festival Periods

5. Mr. ZHANG said it would be useful if liaison officers

could arrange for meetings to be held before each major

festival to discuss such questions as the number of trains,

the likely volume of passengers etc. Representatives from

the relevant departments concerned should be invited to

these meetings. Mr. McLaren agreed. He understood that these sorts of discussions were being held already, but it

was as well to put them on a formal footing. Liaison officers

should agree dates and which departments should be represented.

Smuggling Vessels

6.

Mr. ZHANG asked whether it would be possible to simplify

the arrangements for the return of vessels used by smugglers

apprehended in Hong Kong. Those vessels seized in Mirs Bay

should be returned to the PSB station at Yan Tian: those

seized in Deep Bay to the Shekou PSB station and all other

vessels (belonging to communes further afield) to the Chu Kong

Shipping Company in Hong Kong. Mr. McLaren said that he could

see no problem in principle in arranging the return of such

vessels as Mr. ZHANG had proposed. He emphasised that it

would be essential to establish the true ownership of the

vessels before they could be released to representatives from

the communes for collection or delivered to Chu Kong Shipping

Company. He said that the Hong Kong side would consider the

arrangements further and convey a formal reply through liaison

officers. (Mr. To had earlier explained that Customs & Excise

in Hong Kong presently distinguished between motorised and non-

motorised vessels. He suggested that the Chu Kong Shipping

Company should assume responsibility for all of the former, and

that the non-motorised vessels should be returned to the communes

direct).

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