HONG KONG, Nov. 24 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING)

The Chinese government said Thursday that there was no threat of terrorist attacks on hotels in Hong Kong and China despite a Pakistani newspaper report that the Chinese Consulate General in Pakistan had received such a threat last month.

The threat, faxed to the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi on Oct. 31, said terrorists are planning to attack hotels in Hong Kong and mainland China in the near future.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry acknowledged that the consulate had received the fax, but said Beijing's security bureau ''confirmed days ago that the warning was unfounded and was made up by foreigners.''

Both the Pakistani Consulate General in Hong Kong and the hotel industry said they have not heard about the threat.

Hong Kong Security Secretary Ambrose Lee said Thursday there is no evidence authenticating the report by the Dawn newspaper in Pakistan and that the latest assessment of a terrorist attack in Hong Kong showed the possibility is low.

''But we will not be complacent,'' Lee said. ''We will analyze any intelligence and stay on high alert. So far, there is no sign that Hong Kong is a target of an attack. Hong Kong is still the safest city.''

A statement issued by the Hong Kong police appealed to the public for terrorist activity-related information. It also said the police will keep close contact with overseas law enforcement and intelligence agencies to exchange the latest assessments and prepare accordingly.

The hotel industry said it will keep in close contact with the police to take security precautions for a ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization in Hong Kong in December.

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