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fiction that Communist action is crippling the working of the port. The
Communists have made a particularly strong effort in the sphere of shipping.
Considerable pressures have been applied to the Chinese crews of British
ships which call at Chinese ports and some vessels have had to sail with
men short.
17. Total bank deposits at the end of June were 15% below the total af the
end of December. But a lot of this reflects a typical Chinese preference
to hold their money in time of crisis and comparatively little is believed
to have left the Colony. July and provisional August figures show a pronounced
decrease in the rate of withdrawals and even some signs that funds are returning
to the Banks. There has been some reduction in the inflow of capital from
abroad especially from South East Asia.
Hong Kong Department,
13th December, 1967.
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