Sun Life Assurance Co of Canada said yesterday that its Hong Kong arm reported 19 per cent growth in premium income to $410 million for last year. The vice-president of the Hong Kong operation, Anthony Lau Ting-yin, said the company had 22 per cent growth in new business. Its total number of agents rose 20 per cent to 260 in 1997. Mr Lau said he hoped that total would increase to 500 by the end of this year. Although he expects Hong Kong's economic growth to slow this year, he forecast 40 per cent growth in new premium income for the company this year. 'Amid the recent economic turmoil, people will consider putting their money in insurance policies which have a more stable return than other investment products,' he said.
