There has been adequate coverest
the measures taken by HKG.
The involvement of China in the rescue
was also noted. Now that the crisis is over, media reports are pointing out that Hong Kong's economy does not seem to have suffered lasting damage.
Comment
5.
In spite of the widespread coverage of these events, there was little interest from our journalist contacts in deeper briefing and only six enquiries were received from journalists
with whom we
This suggests that in are not regularly in touch. reality there was less concern about the significance of the events of October among economic journalists than the weight of reporting might suggest.
6.
As usual, the question arises as to whether fuller briefing of overseas correspondents in Hong Kong might have influenced their reporting. I personally doubt it.
Business Perceptions
7.
The comments in these paragraphs are culled from visits made by office staff to Member States since the crisis and from conversations with a variety of contacts. They are inevitably anecdotal but reveal a degree of uniformity which is surprising.
8.
The most significant impression gained is that few business people in Europe were affected by the crisis and therefore few people took a close interest in the reports.
It is
a fact that fewer continental Europeans are investors in the stock
- than in USA on market - let alone the Hong Kong stock market UK and this influences attitudes.
9.
Most of our contacts accept that the Hong Kong crisis was primarily caused by events outside Hong Kong and do not blame Hong Kong for It. They are aware that it was difficult, if not impossible, to deal on other stock markets for periods during the crisis even though they never closed officially.
10.
Against this background, the following indications of a lack of concern in most business and official circles in continental Europe are not surprising:
/(2)