XN000022-1983-09-06 — Page 5

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1983

+THIS IS, HOWEVER BUT ONE ASPECT OF THE TRADE LINKS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG. IN 1982, FOR INSTANCE, HONG KONG WAS BRITAIN'S LARGEST EXPORT MARKET IN ASIA, LARGER EVEN THAN JAPAN. IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, BRITAIN REMAINS HONG SO KONG'S SECOND LARGEST EXPORT MARKET, AFTER THE U.S.A. BRITAIN AND HONG KONG HAVE A PARTNERSHIP IN TRADE THAT BENEFITS THE INDUSTRIES AND CONSUMERS OF BOTH PLACES.+

FOLLOWING PRAYERS BLESSING THE STARLING MISS DUNN SMASHED

A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE SHIP WHILE THE SCOTTISH DIVISION BAND PLAYED TO THE 200-STRONG ASSEMBLY OF GUESTS AND SHIPYARD WORKERS.

AMONG THOSE PRESENT AT THE NAMING WERE THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, SIR JACK CATER, AND LADY CATER, THE MAYOR OF SEFTON, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION JOHN SWIRE. SECOND SEA LORD SIR SIMON CASSELS AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HALL RUSSELL JAMES MILNE.

AN OFFICIAL LUNCH AFTER THE NAMING WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 80 GUESTS INCLUDING SIX WHO HAD DONE SERVICE WITH THE PREVIOUS HMS STARLING DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

MR MILNE POINTED OUT THE STARLING WAS A NAME WHICH HAD

A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED HISTORY.

AND SIR SIMON SAID AS FAR AS HE UNDERSTOOD MISS DUNN WAS THE FIRST HONG KONG RESIDENT TO SPONSOR ONE OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS. +SHE MAY GET INTO THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS,+ HE QUIPPED.

GUINNESS OR NO, THE STARLING WILL CERTAINLY REMAIN IN HONG KONG FOR MANY YEARS IN MINIATURE FORM. AT THE LUNCH MISS DUNN WAS PRESENTED WITH A SILVER BROOCH IN THE FORM OF A (FEATHERED) STARLING AND SHE ANNOUNCED THAT THIS WOULD BE DISPLAYED IN THE CITY HALL IN HONG KONG AS SHE WAS, AFTER ALL, ACCEPTING IT ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

RETAIL SALES SURVEY FOR JUNE

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THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES FOR THE RETAIL TRADE SECTOR IN JUNE 1983 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $4 586 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL SURVEY RESULTS ISSUED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY.

AT 135. THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VALUE INDEX FOR JUNE 1983 DECREASED BY ONE POINT OR ONE PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH MAY 1983, BUT INCREASED BY 15 POINTS OR 13 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH JUNE 1982.

THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VOLUME INDEX, AT 103, WAS 2 POINTS OR 2 PER CENT LOWER THAN THAT FOR MAY 1983, BUT IT WAS 3 POINTS CR 3 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR JUNE 1982.

/COMPARED WITH