TNAG-2822-FCO40-4072-Hong-Kong-boundaries-and-territorial-waters-1993 — Page 65

Transport

CONFIDENTIAL

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11.

I proposed that consideration be given to extending the border opening hours for passenger vehicles at Lok Ma Chau

and Man Kam To from 7.00am to 10.00pm. At present these are

the opening hours for goods vehicles, but the border is closed to passenger vehicles at 8.00pm. I also proposed that consideration be given to opening more kiosks at Lok Ma Chau (only 7 out of 14 are open on our side); and that all future licences for cross-border vehicles be for Lok Ma Chau, where there is the greatest unused capacity. An expert meeting will be held on these and some other minor points.

12.

I said that my personal view was that we needed a 24

hour border sooner rather than later and that this should be

the aim of the two sides. Several of those we met subsequently in Dongguan pressed for this.

13.

I hope our own side can give it priority. Many factories in Guangdong work 24 hours a day. So does our port. We should maximise the use of our economic lifeline. I know

the port would welcome arrivals round the clock. That would make its workload more even. It would also keep us well ahead of Yantian, where containers will be diverted if our border fails to cope. With 24 hour opening we would also avoid some of the early morning border queues. When Gordon Wu's superhighway opens later this year these are bound to increase. At present Lo Wu is open 16 hours a day, Lok Ma Chau and Man Kam To are open 15 hours for goods vehicles and 13 hours for passenger vehicles; and Sha Tau Kok is open 13 hours a day. Is it sensible any longer not to have a 24 hour border?

CONFIDENTIAL