XN000022-1985-09-23 — Page 2

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1985

GOVERNOR TO VISIT ID CARD CENTRE

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL VISIT THE HONG KONG NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ON WEDNESDAY (SEPTEMBER 25) AFTERNOON,

HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR ALAN CARTER.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE VISIT BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE HONG KONG NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY (SEPTEMBER 25) AFTERNOON AT THE BASEMENT OF 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI. ENTRANCE TO THE OFFICE FACES TONNOCHY ROAD.

PRESS MEMBERS COVERING THE EVENT SHOULD BE PRESENT BY 4 PM.

GIS AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO

ASSIST.

SIR JOHN SEES SOME RECOVERY IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS

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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE TONIGHT FORECAST +SOME RECOVERY+ IN DOMESTIC EXPORT PERFORMANCE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A GROWTH RATE OF ONE PER CENT IN REAL TERMS FOR THE YEAR AS A WHOLE.

THIS RECOVERY, HE SAID, WOULD DEPEND ON A REBOUNDING OF THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY, AS IS GENERALLY EXPECTED+.

IT WAS ALSO +SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW HIS BUDGET FORECAST OF 11 PER CENT AND WOULD NOT EVEN BE SO EASY TO ACHIEVE, HE SAID.

REVIEWING THE ECONOMY IN A TALK TO THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, SIR JOHN ALSO:

* REDUCED THE FORECAST GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS OF THE

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IN 1985 TO BETWEEN 4.5 PER CENT AND FIVE PER CENT, FROM THE BUDGET FORECAST OF ABOUT SEVEN PER CENT, AND THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE OF NINE PER CENT IN 1984;

*

STRESSED AGAIN THAT THE LINKED RATE BETWEEN THE HONG KONG DOLLAR AND THE U.S. DOLLAR WOULD BE MAINTAINED;

/* CAUTIONED THE