2nd Oct 66

The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank,
Kowloon

Dear Mum, Dad and Alan,

Thank you for your letter, we are into October now and it is much cooler, although the weather is fine and dry.  The present manager is going on leave in a few weeks time and a new one, an old friend of mine will be taking over soon so will continue to be busy with new ideas that are bound to pop up, as they usually do when there is a change of staff.

Caroline has had a week in hospital with a virus pneumonia and is home now.  She has been quite cheerful about it but has lost weight.  her chest must be checked on during the next few months and she is on a course of vitamins to build her up.  With the hot and humid weather over she should recover steadily.

Fiona has done well with the 'o'levels, has she any idea what she wants to do as a career?

We had a day's holiday last week and took the bank launch with some friends to an island near here for a swim and a walk.  Everything was just right, the sea not too cool and the sun not too hot.  We have been lucky with most of our launch picnics this year and it certainly is the best way to spend the day with the children.  They are all behind me at the moment, having tea and watching television.  The programmes, mostly American, are pretty pointless and seem to make up for their lack of substance by a surplus of noise.

The shares are a bit sad at the moment and it is world wide.  New York has gone into a big slide and it is obvious that no one can see where it will bottom out.  I think things will find a steady level soon and stay fairly dull during next year.  It will take another year to see what the effect of SET and the corporation tax have on ordinary shares and whether they can recover to former levels under the present system.  The Hongkong market is pretty dull as well, but could brighten a lot if some settlement were found in Vietnam, but no doubt some other problem would present itself.  We have not had any trouble with 1st Oct, the communist day of celebration and now have the 10th Oct for the nationalist's annual "do" to see if any riot or disturbance presents itself.  If this passes off quietly, money might start to flow again.  It is all a matter of confidence and the slightest thing makes the big people nervous.

Cheerio for now and love from us all

Peter.