PRESS, BROADCASTING, TELEVISION, FILMS AND TOURISM 295
numbered 60, with French, Indian, Italian, Japanese and German products totalling 59.
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT
In July 1957 the Hong Kong Tourist Association, set up to co-ordinate, organize and promote the Colony's tourist industry, came into being. Incorporated by Ordinance No. 29 of 1957, which is described at pages 222, 223 of Chapter 12, the Association has the full support of the Government which has agreed to provide substantial financial assistance, since it is recognized that the Association cannot be expected to be financially self-supporting at the outset of its work. A nine-member Board of Management, broadly representa- tive of the main sections of the industry, the Government and business generally, was appointed in July. At the end of the year an Executive Director had been selected and was due to take up his duties in February 1958. Premises had been acquired for the headquarters of the Association-in the Peninsula Hotel Arcade in Kowloon. On the Island, prepa- rations were being made for opening an information office at the entrance to the Star Ferry piers on the central reclamation.
The Board of the Association began its work by giving close study to two subjects which are fundamental to travel development and promotion, namely, the improvement of facilities and attractions which Hong Kong has to offer to its visitors and the elimination of any hindrances or mal- practices which might exist to the detriment of the traveller.
During 1957 tourists continued to flow into the Colony by sea and air. With the fewest possible entrance formalities, with good transport services (which will be still further improved when the new Airport, now under construction, has been opened), with shopping facilities unrivalled in the Far East, and with the natural beauty of the local scenery, the new Tourist Association appears to have plenty of
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