MONTHLY REPORT--HONG KONG BUREAU--MAY 1983

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000100210008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 6, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100210008-4
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
HONG KONG BUREAU
MHK-3006
6 June 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH: Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT: Monthly Report -- Hong Kong Bureau -- May 1983
The Consulate and management have
exchanges -LeLLers on Lne onsulate's intent to ease rive floors in the
new building, and the lease agreement is now being negotiated.
received its occupancy permit on 25 May.
STAT
STAT
On 20 May the bureau chief and senior technician and the VOA chief
and technician met with management representatives to discuss STAT
the two offices' needs for after-hours air conditioning. has STAT
said it will not allow the Consulate offices to install their own
auxiliary air conditioning units but will themselves provide whatever
extra air conditioning is needed. They also visited the 65th floor of
Hopewell to take another look at the FBIS and VOA antennas. We expect
no problems with antenna or emergency generator installation.
The two FBIS bureau technicians have surveyed the terrain from u
with high-powered binoculars to insure that present construction
at Victoria Barracks will not interfere with the microwave line-of-sight
to They concluded that buildings presently being constructed
there pose no threat.
Economic Situation -- The Hong Kong dollar continues to plunge
against the U.S. dollar with the closing exchange rate at the end of the
month at HK $7.13 to U.S. $1.00. This, after the Hong Kong Government
raised the prime rate almost two percent the middle of the month when the
exchange rate stood at HK $7.03. The local dollar is expected to
deteriorate even further, with predictions ranging from HK $8-10 to the
U.S. dollar. Though the U.S. dollar has made strong gains worldwide,
the exchange rate in Hong Kong is inevitably viewed in the light of the
1997 issue. The strength of the local dollar is seen here as the most
visible indicator of confidence by investors and, hence the local pop-
ulace, in Hong Kong's future. As one respected local newspaper columnist
Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100210008-4
STAT
STAT
STAT
 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100210008-4
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
HONG KONG BUREAU
noted, gloom deepens as the Hong Kong dollar weakens and the worst is that
everybody feels sure the worst hasn't happened yet--panic is just around
the corner. Confidence has not been helped by British or Hong Kong
government officials, who have yet to make any substantive statements
about the negotiations with the PRC on the future of Hong Kong.
II. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
EOD--Monitor trainee EOD' 1 May. The monitorial and,
hence, the bureau nonstaft TO has now been filled.
STAT
Resignation--Bureau contract secretary) (resigned STAT
effective 6 May. a USIS officer, is being STAT
transferred to Washington.
New addition--Senior editor
parents of a daughter ,F
became STAT
STAT
B. Buildings and Grounds
The Consulate GSO has been asked to protest to Hopewell Management
over their new procedures for gaining access to the 65th floor, where
the bureau's antennas are located. In the past, and according to written
agreement, the bureau need only obtain the keys from the management office
in order to gain access to the roof. Hopewell is now insisting that the
bureau write an advance memorandum and then be accompanied by a Hopewell
staff employee each time a visit is necessary. There apparently has been
a change in Hopewell personnel dealing with this area. The GSO will look
into the matter.
The bureau chief returned on 3 May from the bureau chief's con-
ference in Washington.
STAT
Chief, Hong Kong Bureau
Attachments
A. Production Report
cc: Orig + 3 Hqs.
C/Okinawa Bureau
C/Seoul Bureau
Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100210008-4
born on 28 May.
 Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100210008-4
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
HONG KONG BUREAU
noted, gloom deepens as the Hong Kong dollar weakens and the worst is that
everybody feels sure the worst hasn't happened yet--panic is just around
the corner. Confidence has not been helped by British or Hong Kong
government officials, who have yet to make any substantive statements
about the negotiations with the PRC on the future of Hong Kong.
II. ADMINISTRATION
A. Personnel
EOD--Monitor trainee EOD' 1 May. The monitorial and,
hence, the bureau nonstaft TO has now been filled.
STAT
Resignation--Bureau contract secretary) (resigned STAT
effective 6 May. a USIS officer, is being STAT
transferred to Washington.
New addition--Senior editor
parents of a daughter ,F
became STAT
STAT
B. Buildings and Grounds
The Consulate GSO has been asked to protest to Hopewell Management
over their new procedures for gaining access to the 65th floor, where
the bureau's antennas are located. In the past, and according to written
agreement, the bureau need only obtain the keys from the management office
in order to gain access to the roof. Hopewell is now insisting that the
bureau write an advance memorandum and then be accompanied by a Hopewell
staff employee each time a visit is necessary. There apparently has been
a change in Hopewell personnel dealing with this area. The GSO will look
into the matter.
The bureau chief returned on 3 May from the bureau chief's con-
ference in Washington.
STAT
Chief, Hong Kong Bureau
Attachments
A. Production Report
cc: Orig + 3 Hqs.
C/Okinawa Bureau
C/Seoul Bureau
Approved For Release 2008/06/02 : CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100210008-4
born on 28 May.