before its slump in 1982-83: but the market has improved
its position to a very
considerable
extent since the
signature of the Agreement at the end of 1984.
Secondly, we have not detected any drastic or sudden
increase in Chinese investment in the territory since the
conclusion of
of the Agreement. The trend
trend is rather that
Chinese investment
in Hong Kong has increased steadily
well
before
before negotiations
on
over many years,
years, beginning well
Hong Kong's future were launched in 1982. According to
New China News Agency reports at the end of 1985,
investments in Hong Kong by mainland institutions and PRC
enterprises had then reached a total of HK$30 billion.
Also on at least one recent occasion a Hong Kong bank in
trouble has been assisted through emergency credit
facility partly provided by the Bank of China. But there
has never been any question of the PRC pouring money
into Hong Kong in order to stave off economic collapse in
the territory. While China is certainly committed to
maintaining the future prosperity and stability of the
alsofthe China's territory, there is no clear economic advantage to China
cleat に
л
interest
185
in taking advantage of the investment opportunity offered
centres
by the flourishing commercial and financial culture
its doorstep.
on
Her Majesty
having
Finally, the story about
supposedly handed Hong Kong's "original lease documents"
over to Deng Xiaoping is an engaging tale, but sadly is
without any foundation at all.