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The SING PAO (January 12) reported that Hong Kong residents visiting China. could book domestic flights from Canton to elsewhere through the China National Aviation Corporation. It reported that those travelling would not be allowed to use cameras, telescopes or binoculars while in flight.
Both Communist WEN WEI PO and TA KUNG PAO (January 17) reported that the China National Aviation Corporation had started selling tickets in Hong Kong for their domestic flights in China and that many Hong Kong residents had shown interest in this facility.
The papers published a list of air fares and said bookings could be made either with the Corporation or at the China Travel Service. Due to the Lunar New Year, however, all flights from Canton to Swatow and Shanghai between February 3 to 10, were fully booked.
Tourism
The Hong Kong Economic Journal (January 5) said those in the tourist industry would benefit when China "throws its doors open to tourism". The paper also reported the possible opening of an air service between Hong Kong, Canton and Shanghai, and later to be extended to Peking.
The South China Morning Post (January 9) carried an advertisement announcing that the "Travel Advisers co-ordinating with China Travel Service" were running Hong Kong/Canton/Peking/Tokyo/Hong Kong tours.
The HONGKONG STANDARD (February 4) reported that Louis Law, executive manager of Travel Advisers had said that their regular tours scheduled up to June had all been fully booked and it was possible that more tours to China would be organised for the second half of the year.
The Ta Kung Pao (English edition February 16-22) said China planned to open more rest resorts, scenic spots, sites of historical interest and to organise boating excursions along the seacoast and rivers, for foreign tourists.
It reported that the China International Travel Service had branch offices in many cities with guides and interpreters who between them spoke more than 20 languages and that contacts were being made with a number of travel agencies abroad.
Traveller's Cheques
Both Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao (January 20) reported that for the first time ever Renminbi (RMB) traveller's cheques issued by the head office of the Bank of China in Peking would be available in Hong Kong and Macau.
The Ta Kung Pao (February 16-22) reported that the Renminbi traveller's cheques issued by the Bank of China since January 20 had been favourably received by foreign visitors and Overseas Chinese and that over RMB$300,000 worth of traveller's cheques had been sold on the first day.
The paper said the cheques were in two denominations, fifty and one hundred RMBS, and that they were only valid within China and remained effective for six months from the date of issue.
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