TNAG-2292-FCO40-3304-Official-visits-from-Hong-Kong-to-China-1991 — Page 78

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Capacity at Lok Ma Chau Crossing

14.

Given its current

utilization

rate of 35% of

capacity, Lok Ma Chau will have no problem in accommodating

if the Chinese request is

the additional coach crossings

met.

However,

the quota for coach crossings at

Lok Ma Chau, currently agreed at 100 per day, will probably

need to be reviewed later to cater for this and other

demands that may emerge e.g. following the opening of the

Shenzhen Airport.

Impact on Hong Kong Coach Operators

15.

The entry into the market of Guangdong coach

operators will inevitably have some impact on Hong Kong

coach operators. Nevertheless, given the opening up of the

interior of Guangdong and the increasing demand for cross

border coach services arising from the continued economic

cooperation between Hong Kong and China, such impact if

any, is likely to be small and short-lived.

Public Reaction

16.

The public should generally welcome the

introduction of additional cross border coach routes to

serve the interior regions of Guangdong. Hong Kong cross

border coach operators may ask for an increase in the daily

crossing quota for Lok Ma Chau to ensure that there is

enough quota for all to share and to meet the increasing

demand for such services.