Just a fad. Nothing to see here, move along.
Reuters
Hong Kong gold exchange eyes 1,500-tonne warehouse in mainland China
February 16, 2014
The Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society (CGSE), based in Hong Kong, aims to launch a physical bullion trading exchange and a 1,500-tonne depository in mainland China within the next year, its president said on Thursday. The century-old firm, which runs Hong Kong's only physical bullion trading exchange, is looking to tap the burgeoning demand for gold in China, which last year toppled India from its ranking as the world's top gold consumer.
Its 171 members include dealers, banks and jewellers, among them Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd, the world's most valuable jewellery retailer. It has been in talks to open a warehouse in China's free trade zone in the Qianhai district of Shenzhen that has struggled to take off some three years after it was first touted as a new "mini-Hong Kong".
But talks are finally getting serious after last year's launch of the Shanghai free trade zone, CGSE President Haywood Cheung told Reuters. "Three years ago we started negotiating with them to build a vault for gold and silver. It is now finally down to an ad hoc committee," said Cheung, adding that Qianhai officials had asked for CGSE's plans and proposals...
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