TNAG-0380-FCO40-426-Sterling-assets-and-balance-of-payments-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 102

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

PRIORITY

GRS 540

EN CLAIR

FROM BTC HONG KONG 0802302

UNCLASSIFIED

ORWELL

RER UN

REGISTRY No.51

¡NICKS)

TO PRIORITY FCO TEL BTC 113 OF 8 SEPT, 1973.

STERLING QUARANTEES.

1

Ente

PA

138

13:14

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST TODAY CARRIES REPORT BY FINANCIAL EDITOR

UNDER HEADING 'TOP FINANCIAL EXPERTS BLAST UK MOVE ON RESERVES'.

IT QUOTES CHAIRMAN OF HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK AS SAYING THAT

EXTENSION FOR SIX MONTHS IS 'ON THE FACE OF IT A PRETTY MISERABLE

BOX OF TRICKS' AND CLAIMS THAT THESE 'STRONG WORDS' WERE BEING

ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY AS IRRITATION MOUNTED

OVER ARBITRARY FASHION IN WHICH UK AUTHORITIES HAVE APPARENTLY

DECIDED TO TREAT OUR RESERVES'.

2. EXTENSION IS SAID TO BE REGARDED AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT

DIRECTION BUT WITH TWO ENORMOUS' FLAWS. FIRST, THE APPARENT LACK

OF SCOPE FOR HONG KONG TO DIVERSIFY. SECOND, THERE HAS BEEN A

REACTION CLOSE TO FURY ABOUT COMPLETE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM TREASURY

OFFICIALS TO APPROACHES BY FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND GOVERNMENT'.

!

3. ARTICLE QUESTIONS WHETHER IT IS EQUITABLE TO FIX A GUARANTEE

BASED ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POUND AND THE US DOLLAR, AND

SAYER IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE 'FAIRER IF ADJUSTMENT

PAYMENTS WERE BASED ON THE AGGREGATE OF HONG KONG DOLLAR TO

STERLING RATE FOR PERIOD OF EXTENSION.

14.

ANOTHER HIGHLY

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