TNAG-1019-FCO40-1269-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1981 — Page 119

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China/Norway

A Hong Kong office spokesman for Det norske Veritas of Norway, one of the world's largest organisations for the classification, supervision and design of ships and maritime structures, said in June, 1980 that the company had entered into a full-scale programme of co-operation with China.

The spokesman said a high-level delegation from the Registry of Shipping of China led by the deputy director, Mr. Deng Quiz-hong, had a two-week study tour at Voritas' headquarters in Oslo to get a better understanding of the work of the company in the areas of ship classification, oil and offshore technology and certification, data processing and research.

INFLUX INTO CHINA DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR

It was reported on February 8, 1981 that more than 450 000 Hong Kong residents had returned to China to spend their Lunar New Year there. Among them, about 100 000 travelled via Kung Bei () of Macau, and the number of travellers set a record 50 000 for a single day.

The Shenzhen customs office adopted various measures to cope with the large number of travellers.

All leave for customs and immigration officials at the Shenzhen Railway Station had been cancelled to expedite the flow of Hong Kong visitors and the check points were opened as early as from 2.50 a.m. for seven days commencing February 1.

Express lanes were set up at some of the counters at the check points for the convenience of those carrying only a small quantity of luggage.

Special teams were on duty at the customs office to take care of the elderly and the handicapped.

In Guangzhou, all hotels, hostels and guest houses were opened during the Lunar New Year for Hong Kong tourists. It was said that these facilities would accommodate some 50 000 guests every night.

Restaurants in the city were to extend their opening hours and 15 round-the- clock take-out stalls were set up to meet visitors' demands.

The Kowloon Canton Railway laid on 16 extra trains to their normal schedule

of 40 in a bid to relieve congestion.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China had also increased the number of flights between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, Nanjing () and Hangzhou (i) during the Lunar New Year period.

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