TNAG-0380-FCO40-426-Sterling-assets-and-balance-of-payments-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 103

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

4. ANOTHER HIGHLY PLACED FINANCIAL EXPERT IS QUOTED AS SAYING

THAT THE EXTENSION CAN ONLY MEAN THAT UK HAS PRESSED PANIC BUTTON.

THEY ARE TRYING TO PAPER UP A SERIOUS ECONOMIC SITUATION AND SEEM

TO EXPECT HONG KONG TO PROP UP A SEEMINGLY TOTTERING STRUCTURE'.

5.

ARTICLE WHICH POINTS OUT THAT RESERVES REPRESENT EARNINGS

OF THE PEOPLE WHICH ARE IN DANGER OF BEING STRIPPED OF ANY

PROTECTION SAYS THAT 'POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PARTICULAR

HOT POTATO WILL REACH THE DOLLAR BILLS IN THE POCKET OF OUR

4.5 MILLION PEOPLE'. IT CALLS FOR A COMPROMISE. THE FIRST ELEMENT

OF WHICH SHOULD BE DISCUSSION THROUGH A VISIT OF A HIGHLY PLACED

UK ECONOMIC OFFICIAL TO HONG KONG AND CONCLUDES THAT UK GOVERNMENT

WILL SURELY ACCEPT THAT THEY 'CANNOT SUSTAIN THEIR MONETARY PARITY

ON THE CHEAP'

:

6.

HONG KONG STANDARD ALSO REFERS TO DISSATISFACTIO N IN MONETARY

.

SURPLUS.

7.

HADDON-CAVE IN PRESS CONFERENCE ON RETURN FROM LONDON LAST

NIGHT SAID 'THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FOR SUPPOSING THAT THIS IS A FAIT

ACCOMPLI OR AN IMPOSITION. WE HAVE NOT REACHED A BREAKDOWN IN

t

i THE DIALOGUE, IT HAS ONLY JUST STARTED'. COMMENTING ON REPORTS

FROM LONDON THAT EXTENSION SEEM TO MEET MOST OF HONG KONG 'S

DEMANDS, HE SAID IT IS NOT FOR ANYONE IN BRITAIN TO CLAIM THAT

OUR DEMANDS HAVE BEEN MET. IT IS FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO

DECIDE IF THE PROPOSED TERMS OF AGREEMENT ARE SATISFACTORY TO US.

-2-

/ BY SATISFACTORY I MEAN

!

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