The state of the economy

Document Type

Book chapter

Source Publication

The other Hong Kong report

Publication Date

1-1-1989

First Page

63

Last Page

98

Publisher

The Chinese University Press

Abstract

The year 1988 saw the continuation of a major boom in the Hong Kong property market that started in late 1983. This boom reflected an increase in confidence on the effectiveness of the Sino-British Agreement of 1984 in bringing stability and prosperity to Hong Kong. According to this agreement, Hong Kong’s capitalist system and way of life will stay intact for 50 years after 1 July 1997. The prospect of a modernizing and liberalizing China was basic to this increase in confidence. The Chinese connection was believed to be positive for Hong Kong, bringing opportunities to its people and its businesses. Many commentators had discussed energetically about the enviable position of Hong Kong, and about the prospect of a Greater China comprising continental China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as a major force on the world economic stage. All this was changed on 4 June 1989. The Beijing massacre and the ensuing clampdown of the democracy movement in China set off a major confidence crisis. The magnitude of the crisis was reflected in the dramatic drop of stock prices, with the Hang Seng Index dropping about four hundred points on the first day of trading after the massacre and about one thousand points on a cumulative basis from the announcement of martial law on 20 May till 20 June.

Publisher Statement

Copyright @ The Chinese University of Hong Kong 1989. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Additional Information

ISBN of the source publication: 9622014305

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Ho, L.-s. (1989). The state of the economy. In T. L. Tsim & B. H. K. Luk (Eds.), The other Hong Kong report (pp. 63-98). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

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