TNAG-1839-FCO40-2614-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 14

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

in its prosperity.

By the early 1980s, and in particular

in e initial phase of the negotiations in 1983, Hong

Kong's economic prospects looked uncertain. The

situation was characterised by a serious weakening in the

international position of the Hong Kong dollar,

volatility in the Hong Kong stock market, and a slump in

property prices and investment.

16. Since the signing of the Joint Declaration, Hong

Kong has enjoyed a period of exceptionally rapid economic

growth and development. In the past three years the rate

of growth has been over 10 per cent per annum. Growth of

about 7 to 8 per cent is expected this year. Since

September 1983 the Hong Kong dollar has been linked to

the US dollar, providing a framework of stability and

certainty in which Hong Kong's external trade has been

able to flourish. The traditional entrepot trade has

revived and the container port is now the busiest in the

world in terms of throughput.

Investment in Hong Kong,

particularly investment from China, has grown

substantially.

The economic inter relationship between

Hong Kong and China has developed at a very rapid rate:

Hong Kong is now China's foremost trading partner and

there is extensive co-operation between Hong Kong and the

southern provinces of China in particular. The property

آن دارد

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market is buoyant; there has been a rapid growth in hotel construction in response to growing tourist demand.

new Exhibition and Convention Centre, one of the most

advanced in the world, has been recently completed and

should enhance Hong Kong's role as a regional business

:

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