OPS 783
IN ORD
SECRET Original at:
HONG KONG 07his copy fokV 73
HKK 14/1
HKK 430/1
93
Red
37 NO. 31
PRIORITY F Information only/Asien-en-
Para(s)
TELEGRAM NUMBER(S) of 7 OVEMBER
INFO PEKING, CANBERRA AND SINGAPORE INDEX INFO SAVING WELLINGTON
PLEASE PASS TO CABINET OFFICE FOR SECRETARY JIC.
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THE FOLLOWING IS THE LIC ASSESSMENT FOR OCTOBER 1978.
CHINESE COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES.
Planter sectors
a
feles
appropriate
S
THE 44TH EXPORT COMMODITIES FAIR OPENED IN CANTON ON 15 OCTOBER.
ATTENDANCE FIGURES UP TO THE END OF THE MONTH SHOW THAT THERE HAS
BEEN A 26 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN TRAVELLERS ATTENDING THE TAIR (AND A 33 PERCENT INCREASE IN HONG KONG
RESIDENTS) COMPARED WITH THE 1977 AUTUMN FAIR. THE OPENING WAS MARKED BY THE INAUGURATION (ON 12 OCTOBER) OF TWICE-DAILY CHARTER
FLIGHTS FROM CANTON BY CHINESE-OWNED TRIDENT AIRCRAFT (PARA 4
OF SEPTEMBER'S ASSESSMENT REFERS). THESE FLIGHTS WILL BECOME
THRICE DAILY FROM 8 TO 17 NOVEMBER.
2. SEVEN ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BY THE KIU KWONG
INVESTMENT CORPORATION, WHICH ACTS FOR ORGANISATIONS BASED IN CHINA,
HAVE BEEN NOTED THIS MONTH (SEE PARA 2 OF JULY'S ASSESSMENT). COMMUNIST BANKS HAVE OPENED NINE NEW BRANCHES SO FAR THIS YEAR (COMPARED WITH SIX IN 1977), MAKING A TOTAL OF 139 OUTLETS. REPORTS OF JOINT HONG KONG - CHINESE BUSINESS VENTURES IN CHINA CONTINUE TO FIGURE PROMINENTLY IN THE PRESS. MANY OF THESE REFORTS
ARE SPECULATIVE BUT SO FAR AT LEAST SEVEN REFLECT SERIOUS
DISCUSSIONS.
3. AN AGREEMENT FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A REGULAR HOVERFERRY
SERVICE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CANTON ON 17 NOVEMBER WAS SIGNED IN
CANTON ON 12 OCTOBER BY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HONG KONG YAUMATE! FERRY COMPANY AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KWANGTUNG
PROVINCIAL BUREAU OF MARITIME TRANSPORT IN CANTON. THIS IS PART
OF CHINA'S ATTEMPTS TO EXPAND TOURISM, CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE (HK) LIMITED ANNOUNCED PLANS ON 6 OCTOBER TO EXTEND THE RANGE OF PACKAGE TOURS TO CHINA BY OPENING EIGHT NEW ROUTES IN 1979 WHICH WILL BE
AVAILABLE ONLY FOR FORE ON VISITORS.
SECRET
/4. THE