PRESS DIGEST - Hong Kong - Aug 20

HONG KONG, Aug 20 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Hong Kong newspapers on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

-- British insurer Prudential plans to double its number of agents to 30,000 on the mainland over the next few years as it believes more Chinese are keen to buy their own health insurance amid growing uncertainties about pension reform, said Barry Stowe, Prudential's chief executive officer for Asia.

-- Accounting giant KPMG International's global chairman Michael Andrew said the world economic downturn had prompted a cut in hires in some areas, such as Europe, but the firm would continue to hire staff for developing markets such as mainland China, Brazil, and India.

-- Hong Kong Monetary Authority's chief executive Norman Chan is cautious about the city's economy would be affected by the euro zone sovereign debt crisis and the economic slowdown on the mainland and in the United States. A prudent monetary policy is required to prevent banks from taking too many risks when the property market is facing a potential downturn, Chan said.

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