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purchase of nuclear power generating plant for the Province. It
seems that such responsibility on the part of provincial-level
Chinese officials will stimulate further, closer contacts between
the Hong Kong Government and the authorities in Guangdong.
Continued development of the industrial and commercial complexes
at the newly-created municipalities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai would
provide further stimulus.
59.
The role of New China News Agency (NCNA). A special feature
of communication between the Hong Kong Government and Chinese
authorities is the role played by the Hong Kong branch of the
NCNA and its unofficial representational function. Although the
position which NCNA occupies in either the political or the
organisational structure in China cannot be precisely determined,
it is clear that the head of the Hong Kong branch of NCNA reports
to and receives instructions from superiors in both Guangzhou and
Peking. The Hong Kong Government recognises the special role
which NCNA plays, and uses its offices as a channel of communica-
tion to CPG officials at the national and Provincial level.
60. Apart from its functional role as a news agency, NCNA acts
as a co-ordinating organisation for the many other CPG interests
in Hong Kong. The network includes three main units besides
·NCNA; namely, the Bank of China, China Resources Ltd., and
China Travel Service, plus controlling interests in a number of
newspapers, cinemas, film companies, shipping companies, sales
outlets, banks' and import/export agencies. The Director of NCNA
is the senior CPG official in Hong Kong and heads a large staff,
almost all of whom are specially sent from China. The current
Director, Wang Kuang, holds a senior position in the CCP hierarchy, and formerly held a rank roughly equivalent to that of Vice-
/Minister
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