TNAG-1370-FCO40-1816-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1985 — Page 72

CONFIDENTIAL

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extension of opening hours at Lowu, but will be unlikely to be able to do much about it in the current financial year, given the restrictions on civil service growth and the way in which Immigration Department is stretched. However, we have succeeded in obtaining additional staff to man the new immigration booths at Man Kam To; and to enable a transfer of 50% of China ferry services to the old Macau terminal as a temporary measure to relieve the pressure at Tai Kok Tsui until the purpose-built terminal comes on stream. We also continue to look at ways of stimulating traffic to use the Sha Tau Kok crossing.

6.

These nitty-gritty subjects apart, the CRC also looked at the arrangements for the two subsidiary committees (the CEC and CICC), which will view things on a macroscopic scale. I expect much of the value of the CRC to come from the work of these two committees in monitoring developments in China and assess- ing their implications for Hong Kong. The CEC has already held a very useful first meeting when it reviewed the economic developments in China in the first half of the year; and the implications for Hong Kong of the tightening foreign exchange situation.

Finally, I attach a copy of a supplementary circular to Richard Margolis' one of 23 August, copied earlier to the Department and to David Blunt, which fills in the "missing links".

7.

Yours ever,

cc D G Blunt Esq., Peking

(C T Wood)

Assistant Political Adviser