XN000022-1976-08-16 — Page 3

MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1976

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+THIS PUTS AUSTRALIA AMONG THE TOP FIVE OF HONG KONG'S VISITOR GENERATING MARKETS, HE SAID. +MORE THAN THAT AUSTRALIANS SEEM TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAN THE AVERAGE OF OTHER VISITORS AND THEY STAY LONGER.+

+SO, AUSTRALIAN VISITORS ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN 13 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S GROSS INCOME FROM TOURISM- AND THE IR AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 4.6 NIGHTS, WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THE OVERALL AVERAGE OF 3.7 NIGHTS, HE INDICATED.

IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, HE WENT ON, AUSTRALIAN VISITOR ARRIVALS WERE AS MUCH AS 32 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE SAME PERIOD IN 1975.

+THIS IS A VERY CONSIDERABLE INCREASE BY ANY STANDARDS AND IT SEEMS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE HONG KONG TOURIST PRODUCTS IS BEING SOLD VERY EFFECTIVELY BY AFTA MEMBERS,+ HE SAID.

+FOR OUR PART IN HONG KONG, THE TOURIST INDUSTRY IS WELL AWARE THAT THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL IN THE AUSTRALIAN VISITOR MARKET IF IT CAN BE REACHED AND SOLD THE RIGHT PACKET OF ATTRACTIONS.+

GOVERNOR ADDRESSES INAUGURAL MEETING OF COUNTRY PARKS BOARD ******

THE GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, PLACED GREAT EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRY PARKS IN HONG KONG WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD TODAY.

IN HIS ADDRESS, SIR MURRAY SHOWED EXTREME INTEREST IN THE PROGRESS OF COUNTRY PARKS WORK WHICH HE REGARDED AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DRIVE TO PROVIDE BETTER RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DESPOLIATION OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND ITS URGENT NEED FOR PROTECTION AND HE STRESSED THAT THE FIRST DUTY OF THE BOARD WOULD BE TO ASSIST IN DESIGNATING SCENIC AREAS AS COUNTRY PARKS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO BRING THEM UNDER EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION.

CONSIDERATION OF THEIR USE AND DEVELOPMENT WOULD FOLLOW, TOGETHER WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APPROPRIATE ORGANISATION TO GIVE FULL EFFECT TO THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY'S DECISIONS.

THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD IS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE TO ADVISE AND ASSIST THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY, NOW FORMALLY VESTED IN THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES IN HIS RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT TO THE COUNTRY PARKS PROGRAMMÉ.

THE ORDINANCE BECOMES EFFECTIVE FROM TODAY (AUGUST 16).

FOLLOWING SIR MURRAY'S ADDRESS, THE BOARD IMMEDIATELY GOT DOWN TO THE BUSINESS OF CONSIDERING THE PROGRESS ALREADY MADE, AND SETTING UP WORKING COMMITTEES TO EXPEDITE BUSINESS AND ARRANGING VISITS TO KEY AREAS DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,

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