G.F. 326
Tourism
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27.
In the third quarter of 1986, about three
million trips were made by Hong Kong residents to China,
representing an increase of 9% over the same quarter last
year. In addition, 190,127 trips were made by foreign visitors to China through Hong Kong, representing an
increase of 21% over a year ago. The number of trips made
by Chinese residents to Hong Kong rose by 22% over the
same period to 34,614. Of these, 49% were in the form of
group tours, while the rest were made by two-way permit
holders.
28.
According to the Immigration Department, a total
of 1,440 PRC official delegations, comprising 5,689
people, visited Hong Kong in the third quarter of 1986,
compared with 1,250 delegations comprising 5,086 people in
the second quarter of 1986. About half of the increase in the number of official delegations involved delegations of
a business or commercial nature. At the end of September
1986, there were 4,951 PRC officials working in Hong Kong,
compared with 4,606 at the end of June 1986.
Financial links.
29.
In terms of gross financial transactions, claims
on China's banks by Hong Kong's financial institutions
(banks and dtcs) grew by 13% during the third quarter of
1986. Claims on China's non-banking sector, however, fell
by 11% over the same period. In consequence, total claims on China grew by 6%, to HK$40 434 million. On the other
hand, liabilities of Hong Kong's financial institutions to
China's bank increased by 4% during the third quarter, to
HK$24 365 million. As the amount of liabilities to
China's non-banking sector is believed to be small, Hong
Kong probably had a net credit position vis-à-vis China as at end September 1986.
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