XN000022-1990-03-05 — Page 5

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, MARCH 5, 1990

LOANS TO FINANCE VISIBLE TRADE OF HONG KONG FELL BY 0.8 PER CENT IN JANUARY 1990, FOLLOWING A DECLINE OF 1.1 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER AND AN INCREASE OF 0.5 PER CENT IN DECEMBER 1989 RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 8.2 PER CENT.

OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG GREW BY 2.5 PER CENT IN JANUARY COMPARED WITH INCREASES OF 2.3 PER CENT AND 1.1 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 26.9 PER CENT.

LOANS FOR USE OUTSIDE HONG KONG DECREASED BY 3.9 PER CENT IN JANUARY, FOLLOWING A STRONG INCREASE OF 8.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 26.2 PER CENT,

LOANS TO FINANCE MERCHANDISING TRADE NOT TOUCHING HONG KONG DECLINED BY 22 PER CENT IN JANUARY, AFTER AN INCREASE OF 3.6 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER AND A ZERO GROWTH IN DECEMBER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS DECLINED BY 9.5 PER CENT. IN TERMS OF RELATIVE SHARE, HOWEVER, THESE LOANS ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF TOTAL LOANS.

NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS

THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 165. THE NUMBER OF LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCREASED BY ONE TO 37 WHILE THAT OF REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DECREASED BY TWO TO 200.

/TABLE 1