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BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG 7th Floor, Shell House, Queen's Road, Central, Hong Kong Mail Address: P.O. Box No. 528, Hong Kong
Dear Definement, беровалив
Cable Address: "Uktrade Hongkong"
Telephone- 230176 -
16 July, 1968
DIS, MOD
нам
For once happenings concerning Macao have hit the headlines in Hong Kong, and they are maybe of passing interest to you and to Lisbon.
2.
All the main contacts between the Portugese enclave and the outside world are normally made through Hong Kong. There is no deep water berth in the Portugese territory, though a few small Portugese ships coming from Timor and Mozambique sometimes lie off and unload into lighters. The main communications are operated by six companies who run competing services of hydrofoils and ferry vessels between Hong Kong and Macao. Two of these companies are controlled by Mr. Stanley Ho who also enjoys the lucrative gambling concession in Macao. The others are in the main controlled by Mr. Y.C. Liang, who enjoys the gold concession in Macao.
3. These two gentlemen have never seen eye to eye, and the highly competitive nature of the hydrofoil and ferry business has been frequently demonstrated in price wars, sudden rebates, conflicting timetables, etc. The latest move has been the complete withdrawal of all services by the companies controlled by Mr. Y.C. Liang and his associates. This has meant that three ferry vessels and the majority of the hydrofoils have been laid up. The re have been acrimonious Board meetings, (because Mr. Ho is also a Board member of certain of Mr. Liang's companies), but for three weeks Macao has only been served by the single ferry vessel and few hydrofoils controlled by Mr. Stanley Ho. The Portugese Governor is reported to be furious; the number of foreign tourists has dropped to almost nothing; even the attendance at the dog track, (which is mainly supported by Hong Kong residents), has been severely curtailed.
4. There have been various attempts at mediation notably by Mr. Ho Yin, but there is no sign as yet of normal services being resumed.
5. One by-product of this fracas has been that there have been no gold shipments to Macao for the past three weeks as Mr. Liang's vessel the "Fat Shan" is the only one officially employed for this purpose, though in fact,
/shipments are
...
The Far Eastern Department, Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors or omis. sions in that information and no responsibility is accepted in regard to the standing of any firms, companies, or individuals mentioned,
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