TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1983
FINANCIAL SECRETARY REAFFIRMS CONFIDENCE IN HK
*****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, TOLD A GATHERING OF PROMINENT BANKERS AND OTHER BUSINESSMEN TODAY THAT HE HAD NO DOUBT ABOUT THE FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.
ADDRESSING THE VISITING CHAIRMAN OF CITIBANK AND CITICORP, MR WALTER B. WRISTON, AND GUESTS AT A CEREMONY MARKING THE OPENING OF CITICORP CENTRE ON WHITFIELD ROAD THIS EVENING, SIR JOHN RECALLED THAT THERE WAS A CELEBRATION LAST YEAR MARKING 80 YEARS OF CITICORP'S BANKING PRESENCE IN HONG KONG.
→THAT WAS AN OCCASION FOR BOTH REFLECTION ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST AND EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE IN, AND COMMITMENT TO, THE FUTURE. I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THE FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, SIR JOHN SAID.
HE SAID THESE EXPRESSIONS OF CONFIDENCE AND COMMITMENT WERE MANIFEST IN THIS SPLENDID NEW BUILDING, THE CITICORP CENTRE.+
THE BANK, SIR JOHN SAID, HAD TAKEN A NOTABLE STEP IN THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S FINANCIAL SECTOR, WHICH OCCUPIED A SIGNIFICANT AND GROWING POSITION IN THE HONG KONG ECONOMY.
IT HAD ALSO MADE A BOLD MOVE IN DECIDING TO SITE ITS HONG KONG HEADQUARTERS AWAY FROM CENTRAL, WHICH HAD TRADITIONALLY BEEN REGARDED AS THE FINANCIAL HEARTLAND.
HE CONGRATULATED THE BANK ON THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT. AND WISHED IT EVERY SUCCESS IN THIS LOCATION OVER THE YEARS AHEAD.
SIR JOHN ADDED: +MR WRISTON, YOU ARE A WORLD RENOWNED CHAIRMAN OF A WORLD LEADING BANK. YOU CERTAINLY SHARE WITH ME A COMMITMENT TO STABILITY AND A BELIEF THAT AT THIS JUNCTURE IN WORLD ECONOMIC AFFAIRS BOTH BANKS AND BANKING AUTHORITIES NEED TO ACT CAREFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY.
+ PLEDGE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO THIS POLICY.+
NOTE TO EDITORS:
GOVERNOR, EXCO LEAVING FOR UK ****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL LEAVE FOR LONDON TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) EVENING FOR FURTHER CONSULTATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
THEY WILL BE LEAVING ON FLIGHT CX 201, ETD 10.50 PM.
A PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED TO COVER THE IR DEPARTURE. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN ASSIGNED TO COVER THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING NOT LATER THAN 9.45 PM TOMORROW.
GIS OFFICERS WILL ASSIST.
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