Remember A Day | Cattle thriving on marijuana, boxing legend Muhammad Ali urged to retire and Soviet president’s spiritual healing: headlines from 40 years ago
- A journey back through time to look at significant news and events reported by the South China Morning Post from this week in history
Cattle thriving on marijuana, calls for boxing legend Muhammad Ali to retire and the Soviet president’s spiritual healing made the headlines 40 years ago this week.
June 1, 1980
● Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Inc said it was negotiating with Chinese authorities to build a pair of 33-storey twin-tower skyscrapers for HK$45-HK$50 million (US$5.8-US$6.4 million at current exchange rates) in Guangdong. The Chinese would contribute the site, while the company would obtain leasing rights for one tower for 15 years in return for financing the project. The firm intended to lease 120 flats and 120 offices in one tower to companies for five to 15 years.
● Speculation ended over who was to become RTHK’s new director of broadcasting. John Tisdall, 53, the former BBC assistant director, was appointed head later that month.
June 2, 1980
● Muhammad Ali, in training for a summer bid to regain the world heavyweight boxing title, appeared to be suffering from brain damage and should not fight again, a British neurologist said. A central London doctor, who was not identified, studied films of Ali taken in 1970, 1978 and 1979 which, he said, showed a marked deterioration in the 38-year-old boxer’s speech and movements.