ENG-1959 — Page 331

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

predominate in the cinemas. Records of the Panel of Film Censors show that 193 American films were submitted for censorship during 1959, 63 British and 161 from all other countries including France, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, Philippines, Korea, South America, Taiwan, Russia and China.

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT

Tourism continued to develop satisfactorily during 1959. In 1958 a total of 103,055 visitors (excluding overseas Chinese but in- cluding those from the British Commonwealth) falling within the accepted international definition of 'tourists' visited Hong Kong, but this figure had already been surpassed in the first ten months of 1959, and the final figure for the year, 138,561, was an increase of 34 per cent over 1958.

The Hong Kong Tourist Association

Tourist Association was established by Ordinance in 1957 and started to operate early in 1958. The Association works through a Board of Management appointed by the Governor and composed of nine members representing various branches of the tourist industry and of Government, and including an Executive Director. The Government subvention to the Asso- ciation increased from HK$600,000 for the financial year 1958-9 to HK$1,000,000 for the financial year ending in March 1960.

The Association has initiated an advertising programme to pro- ject Hong Kong and its attractions abroad; posters and brochures describing the scenery and many amenities of Hong Kong have been widely distributed. A 35-mm travel film in colour was made in 1959 and released for world-wide distribution, and a 16-mm colour documentary film was completed for showing to television viewers in the U.S.A. and eventually in Europe and elsewhere.

In addition, during 1959 the Association appointed an official guide book, issued twice each month, and a monthly news bulletin, The Hong Kong Travel Bulletin, which were distributed both locally and abroad.

As a first step towards co-ordinating the activities of the tourist industry, in accordance with its terms of reference under the Ordin- ance, the Association began to enrol members and associate members late in 1958. At the end of 1959 membership was about 200, including airlines, shipping companies, travel and tourist