TNAG-0823-FCO40-1030-Policy-on-salaries-for-civil-servants-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 64

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TELEGRAM NUMBER(S) of 7 OVEMBER

INFO PEKING, CANBERRA AND SINGAPORE INDEX INFO SAVING WELLINGTON

PLEASE PASS TO CABINET OFFICE FOR SECRETARY JIC.

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THE FOLLOWING IS THE LIC ASSESSMENT FOR OCTOBER 1978.

CHINESE COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES.

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THE 44TH EXPORT COMMODITIES FAIR OPENED IN CANTON ON 15 OCTOBER.

ATTENDANCE FIGURES UP TO THE END OF THE MONTH SHOW THAT THERE HAS

BEEN A 26 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN TRAVELLERS ATTENDING THE TAIR (AND A 33 PERCENT INCREASE IN HONG KONG

RESIDENTS) COMPARED WITH THE 1977 AUTUMN FAIR. THE OPENING WAS MARKED BY THE INAUGURATION (ON 12 OCTOBER) OF TWICE-DAILY CHARTER

FLIGHTS FROM CANTON BY CHINESE-OWNED TRIDENT AIRCRAFT (PARA 4

OF SEPTEMBER'S ASSESSMENT REFERS). THESE FLIGHTS WILL BECOME

THRICE DAILY FROM 8 TO 17 NOVEMBER.

2. SEVEN ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BY THE KIU KWONG

INVESTMENT CORPORATION, WHICH ACTS FOR ORGANISATIONS BASED IN CHINA,

HAVE BEEN NOTED THIS MONTH (SEE PARA 2 OF JULY'S ASSESSMENT). COMMUNIST BANKS HAVE OPENED NINE NEW BRANCHES SO FAR THIS YEAR (COMPARED WITH SIX IN 1977), MAKING A TOTAL OF 139 OUTLETS. REPORTS OF JOINT HONG KONG - CHINESE BUSINESS VENTURES IN CHINA CONTINUE TO FIGURE PROMINENTLY IN THE PRESS. MANY OF THESE REFORTS

ARE SPECULATIVE BUT SO FAR AT LEAST SEVEN REFLECT SERIOUS

DISCUSSIONS.

3. AN AGREEMENT FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A REGULAR HOVERFERRY

SERVICE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CANTON ON 17 NOVEMBER WAS SIGNED IN

CANTON ON 12 OCTOBER BY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HONG KONG YAUMATE! FERRY COMPANY AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KWANGTUNG

PROVINCIAL BUREAU OF MARITIME TRANSPORT IN CANTON. THIS IS PART

OF CHINA'S ATTEMPTS TO EXPAND TOURISM, CHINA TRAVEL SERVICE (HK) LIMITED ANNOUNCED PLANS ON 6 OCTOBER TO EXTEND THE RANGE OF PACKAGE TOURS TO CHINA BY OPENING EIGHT NEW ROUTES IN 1979 WHICH WILL BE

AVAILABLE ONLY FOR FORE ON VISITORS.

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