TNAG-2036-FCO40-2900-Visits-from-countries-other-than-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 87

CONFIDENTIAL

PATSC Visits

T47

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

布政司署

香港下亞厘畢道

DIEU ES MON)

本署檔號 Our Ref.: SCR 29/64

來函檔號 Your Ref.:

J Marshall, Esq.,

Far Eastern Department,

FCO

ike John

August 1990

RECE

HKB 02613

STRY

17

.90

DESK INDEX

9

Taiwan Visitors to Hong Kong & China

Immigration Department have just passed the figures for Taiwanese visitors to Hong Kong and China for the first half of this year which is attached. The total number of Taiwanese who visited Hong Kong in this period was 391,273 (down 3.8% over the same period last year) of whom 278,268 went on to China

(down 2.6% over last year). The figures would have been much down on last year were it not for the fact that for obvious reasons Taiwanese visitors in June last year were at a very low level indeed.

Unless there are large numbers of Taiwanese wishing to attend the Asia Games on the introduction of Multiple Entry Permits increases the number of visitors to Hong Kong, I doubt whether this years total figures will reach those of last year.

I suspect that this is the beginning of a slow decline in the numbers of Taiwanese visitors in the long term. The increasing affluence in Taiwan has brought vacations in Europe, the States and Australia within the budget of many more people in Taiwan. If true this would be a blow to many hoteliers in Hong Kong and the mainland who have been counting on ever increasing numbers of Taiwanese to fill their rooms.

I notice that today's China Daily is claiming a 48.5% increase for Taiwanese visitors this year. I do not see how they have reached this result. Perhaps it is just because they are now getting more accurate figures. In the past their figures for Taiwanese visitors were much lower than Immigration Departments.

c.c.

HKD, FCO

سبت به شهر

You's fir

Ket

(R AJ Bunten)

Assistant Political Adviser (G)

SC Riordan, Esq., Peking

CONFIDENTIAL