[
CONFIDENTIAL
2
time, the General Committee of the Stock Exchange of Hong
Kong decided to suspend trading for 4 days. The
officially quoted reason was to allow all outstanding
transactions to be settled in accordance with trading
rules. Over the preceeding months, a considerable backlog
had built up because of the very high level of turnover in
the market. Because of the Stock Exchange's decision, the
Hong Kong Futures Exchange also suspended trading.
Assessment
3.
In late November, after the dust had settled,
SASI asked all overseas offices for a comprehensive
assessment of how Hong Kong's image and reputation had
been affected on a long term basis by the events in
October. The offices were asked to cover at least the 4.
following points :
(a) the extent and tone of print and electronic media
coverage in their area of responsibility both to
the events themselves and the Government's
response to them;
(b)
the underlying perception of Hong Kong as an
international financial centre in the light of
those events in the mind of the general public,
and in particular leaders in commerce, industry
and political circles;
CONFIDENTIAL