TNAG-1623-FCO40-2237-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 121

G.F. 326

Tourism

CONFIDENTIAL # 3

22

30.

In the first quarter of 1987, about 3.3 million trips were made by Hong Kong residents to China,

representing an increase of 11% over the same quarter in

1986. In addition, 153,048 trips were made by foreign

visitors to China through Hong Kong, representing an

increase of 29% over a year ago. The number of direct

trips made by Chinese residents to Hong Kong (i.e.

excluding trips made by Chinese residents to Hong Kong

from places other than China) rose by 8% over the same

period to 61,434. Of these, 27% were in the form of group tours, 30% were made by two-way permit holders, and the rest were made by PRC passport holders coming to Hong Kong

as visitors (including transit visitors).

31.

Probably due to seasonal factors, the number of

PRC official delegations to Hong Kong fell to 1668

(comprising 6786 people) in the first quarter of 1987,

from 2040 (comprising 7320 people) in the fourth quarter

of 1986. More than half of these official delegations in

the first quarter of this year involved delegations of

business or commercial nature. At the end of March 1987,

there were 5,301 PRC officials working in Hong Kong,

compared with 5,045 at the end of December 1986.

Financial links between Hong Kong and China

32.

In terms of financial transactions, claims on

China's banks by Hong Kong's financial institutions (banks and deposit-taking companies) recorded an increase of 13.8% during the first quarter of 1987 to HK$34.8 billion

(US$4.5 billion). Liabilities of Hong Kong's financial

institutions to China's banks increased more rapidly, by

27% to HK$34.5 billion (or US$4.4 billion). Insofar as

CONFIDENTIAL #≈

機密