71
GR 485
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM HONG KONG 170435Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
*
TOP COPY
RECEIVED IN *** *O. 51
19 JUN 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
طه
TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 747 OF 17 JUNE 1978
RES: TRY
PA
Action Taken
F
See (66) (129)
INFO FRIORITY PEKING, ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,
HONG KONG CANTON FERRY SERVICE.
EDMUND LAU, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY (THE MAIN LOCAL FERRY OPERATORS) HAS JUST BEEN ON A
VISIT TO CANTON WHERE HE DEMONSTRATED ONE OF HIS HOVER-
FERRIES TO A LARGE GROUP OF CHINESE OFFICIALS INCLUDING LIAO CH'ENG-CHTH (DIRECTOR OF THE STATE COUNCIL'S OFFICE OF OVERSEAS
CHINESE AFFAIRS). THE CHINESE ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING HOVERCRAFT WHICH LAU'S GROUP HOPE TO MANUFACTURE IN HONG KONG UNDER LICENCE
FROM HOVERMARINE.
2. LAU HAD EARLIER VISITED PEKING AND FLOATED THE IDEA OF A
CANTON FERRY SERVICE, AGAIN WITH LIAO CH'ENG-CHIH. HE REPORTED THAT LIAO WAS ENTHUSIASTIC ON THE GROUNDS THAT CHINA WANTED TO IMPROVE FACILITIES FOR TOURISTS. DURING HIS LATEST
VISIT TO CANTON, FOLLOWING PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS HERE, `LAU ASKED THE CHINESE TO CONFIRM THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN A FERRY SERVICE. THE ANSWER (FROM LIAO CH'ENG-CHIH) WAS A VERY DEFINITE AFFIRMATIVE. LAU'S PLAN IS TO START A SERVICE IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER USING TWO HOVER-FERRIES EACH CARRYING 60 PEOPLE. THE JOURNEY WOULD
TAKE ABOUT THREE HOURS. HE WOULD EXPAND THE SERVICE LATER WHEN
MORE CRAFT BECAME AVAILABLE AND IF THE TRAFFIC JUSTIFIES IT.
13. WE HAVE
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