XN000022-1994-07-22 — Page 19

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1994

17

NO SECURITY REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT PREMISES

REPORT

AND

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ON AN ENGLISH NEWSPAPER TODAY (FRIDAY) CONCERNING A "MAJOR SECURITY REVIEW OF ALL GOVERNMENT PREMISES" FOLLOWING CONCERNS FOR THE SAFETY OF TOP CIVIL SERVANTS THEIR PROPERTY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE REPORT WAS AND MISLEADING.

"NO SUCH REVIEW IS PLANNED OR IN PROGRESS.

**

INACCURATE

HE SAID WHAT WAS UNDERWAY WAS A ROUTINE ASSESSMENT BY THE CRIME BE PREVENTION BUREAU TO ADVISE WHAT, IF ANY, MINOR IMPROVEMENTS MIGHT MADE TO THE SECURITY OF THE

RESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT'S

HOLDINGS.

PROPERTY

PREVENTION

THAT

AS THIS WAS EXPLAINED TO THE REPORTER BY THE CRIME BUREAU AND THE GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AGENCY, IT WAS DISAPPOINTING THIS WAS NOT ACCURATELY REPORTED IN THE ARTICLE, HE SAID.

0

FRENCH BANK GRANTED LICENCE

THAT (FRIDAY)

BANQUE GRANTED A BANKING

GOVERNMENT

SAID TODAY

SPOKESMAN A FRANCAISE DU COMMERCE EXTERIEUR (BFCE) HAD BEEN LICENCE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN HONG KONG.

BFCE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1947. IT IS THE 14TH LARGEST BANK FRANCE AND RANKED 322ND IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF CAPITAL.

IN

IT HAS 27 LOCAL BRANCHES IN FRANCE AND AN OVERSEAS NETWORK FOUR BRANCHES AND 15 REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES.

OF

IN SINCE 1985.

HONG KONG,

BFCE HAS BEEN OPERATING A REPRESENTATIVE

OFFICE

THE BANK INTENDS TO UPGRADE THE REPRESENTATIVE BRANCH TO STRENGTHEN ITS PRESENCE IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION AND A MORE ACTIVE BANKING ROLE IN THE VARIOUS GROWING ECONOMIES REGION.

ΤΟ OFFICE

A PLAY IN THE

THE PROPOSED

BRANCH WOULD ALSO SERVE AS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR ITS NORTH EAST ASIA OPERATIONS.

FINANCE,

BANK'S REGIONAL

BRANCH WILL THE PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OF THE PROPOSED HONG KONG INCLUDE LOAN SYNDICATION, CORPORATE

TRADE AND PROJECT FINANCE, AND MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS.

IN

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CONTINUING INTEREST OF FOREIGN BANKS

IMPORTANCE ENTERING THE LOCAL MARKET REFLECTED HONG KONG'S CONTINUED AND ATTRACTIVENESS AS A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL LICENCE FOR BFCE 1S THE EIGHTH BANKING LICENCE GRANTED IN 1994.

CENTRE. THE

THERE ARE NOW 179 LICENSED BANKS IN HONG KONG, OF WHICH 147 ARE INCORPORATED OUTSIDE THE TERRITORY. OF THESE, NINE ARE FROM FRANCE.

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