CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

(54)

Rar

Reference .KA502/516/01 · · ·

Mr Morris

HONG KONG AND THE COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

see53

The Fourth Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on the work of the CDC to which you refer was published on 7 December. In paragraph 82 of the Report it states:-

2.

"We believe that more vigorous efforts should be made to disinvest from relatively wealthy countries such as Hong Kong .... and that money obtained by selling assets should be redeployed to the benefit of poorer countries... We believe that there would have to be a very strong case to justify continual investment in projects in countries which have little need for CDC concessionary aid and no need at all of CDC management expertise".

CDC's investment in Hong Kong at 30 September is, in fact, extremely limited. It comprises the following:-

Company Name

Class of investment

Holding

No

Book Value

£

Hong Kong Building

HK$5 ordinary shares

1,437,480

17%

230,156

and Loun Agency Ltd

Modern Terminals Ltd HK$1000 ordinary shares

5,556

10%

578,000

"

9.5% Debentures repayable

1979-84

880,000

3.

Given CDC's developmental objectives, it is highly unlikely that they would seek capital approval from ODA for any further investments in Hong Kong. Realisation of investments where possible is already CDC's policy.

Mis Goal.

M J Graham

E510

Investment and Crown Agents Department

ODA

December 1982

lowe & But

нек

HICK 022/4

NO DB 18/14 fcolbl/1

I don't think there in aything for or th to worry about.

Pr

4n

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