On This Day
ON THIS day 25 years ago: Hongkong's exports and re-exports to South Vietnam had increased more than 10 times in the past six years as the war and US expenditure escalated - but local trade authorities did not think peace would necessarily had have a harmful effect on the territory's economy.
Tourist officials said they believed any reduction in spending by American servicemen on leave in Hongkong was likely to be compensated for by an increase in civilian tourists.
Hongkong's exports to South Vietnam in 1967 were worth $58,301,878, and re-exports $70,453,704. In 1962, exports were worth only $2,542,449 and re-exports $9,694,229.
Authorities pointed out that, even on 1967's figures, exports to South Vietnam made up only a small proportion of Hongkong's total trade and the territory's economy was not nearly so closely geared or sensitive to events in South Vietnam as, for example,the economies of Japan and South Korea.
It has been estimated about 200,000 US servicemen from Vietnam spend about $360 million here annually. A MAN and his wife, each sentenced to five-year prison terms in August 1967, for possession of a bomb, were given a pardon by the Governor and released.
They were also granted $15,000 as compensation for their detention.
The pardon resulted from the discovery of new evidence by police proving the couple's innocence.
In August 1967, the police, acting on information, raided the hut of Mr Wong Yun-chi and his wife, Ms Yip Hop-siu, and discovered a live bomb under a bed. Both were convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment.
Evidence of the couple's innocence came after two men in Fanling were prosecuted for the possession of two simulated bombs in March.
