TNAG-2473-FCO40-3600-Asian-Development-Bank-liabilities-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 33

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CONFIDENTIAL

2

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3.

But the general trend is clear.

In the past quarter century:

economic growth in the Asian DMCs

has averaged 6.68 per year in

real terms. This is about double

the rates for Europe and North

America during the same period;

Asia's share of world trade

increased from about 5% to more

than 13%;

per

capita GDP

in Asia has

increased by an average of 50%;

life

expectancy in Asia has

improved from 46 to 64 years.

4.

Behind the dry statistics

of

economic and social development is a real

improvement in the

hundreds of millions

standard of living of

of people. The ADB

can be proud of the part it has played in

bringing

about this improvement. In the

past 25 years, the bank has made loans of

more

than US$37 billion in 49 countries

CONFIDENTIAL