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TOP COPY
GPS 195
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EM HONG KONG 2606452 MÁY 83
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 725 OF 26 MAY 1983
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
HKK04012
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 - 7 JUN 1983
DESK A
INDEX
REGISTRY
Ayi Takan
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PRESS COVERAGE
из
C7128/6
THE TWO MAIN COMMUNIST NEWSPAPERS, WEN WEI PO AND TA KUNG PAO, TODAY TOOK AS THEIR FRONT PAGE LEADS AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE LOCAL BRANCH OF THE BANK OF CHINA, JIANG WENGUI.
2. JIANG URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ABOLISH THE 10 PER CENT WITHHOLDING TAX ON LOCAL HK DOLLAR DEPOSITS TO PREVENT FURTHER SLIDES IN THE CURRENCY FROM DAMAGING HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND THE LIVELIHOOD OF ITS RESIDENTS. HE DENIED THAT THE SLUMP REFLECTED AN EROSION OF CONFIDENCE OVER THE FUTURE, MAINTAINING THAT THE PROSPECTS FOR 1997 WERE GOOD. INSTEAD HE BLAMED THE RECENT CURRENCY SLIDE ON A SMALL NUMBER OF SPECULATORS WHO WERE CAPITALISING ON THE STRENGTH OF THE US DOLLAR.
3. BOTH PAPERS COMMENTED EDITORIALLY, ECHOING JIANG'S CALL FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. WEN WEI PO MAINTAINED THAT THE TIME HAD COME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTION TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY AND TO DEMONSTRATE ITS QUOTE UNIQUE EFFICIENCY IN ADMINISTRATION UNQUOTE.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KÒNG
REMBRAND
ED/EKGD
HD/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF ED/PUSD PS
PS/MR HURD
PS/LORD BELSTEAD PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
MR DONALD
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
COPIES TO
SIR I SINCLAIR
MR BURROWS
LEGAL ADVISER LEGAL ADVISERS
MR ROBERTS NEWS D
MR MARTIN
MR FLOWER
ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
PUSD
MR COLES NO. 10 DOWNING ST.
SIR A PARSONS
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NO 10 DOWNING ST.
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