41.   A senior finance ministry official said the government had to consider social and economic factors linked to privatisation, as well as the rehabilitation of laid-off workers.

42.   A senior Japanese finance ministry official said the package announced earlier Wednesday by Finance Minister Masayoshi Takemura was not linked to the collapse of Cosmo Credit Cooperative.

43.   A senior finance ministry official said Monday that domestic investors, not foreigners, were behind a recent slump in Japanese share prices.

44.   A stock watchdog chief and a senior finance ministry official were arrested last week.

45.   A senior finance official said Friday Ottawa launched an investigation to safeguard against the possible flood of cheap steel imports into Canada following the US imposition of steel tariffs.

46.   But a senior Japanese finance ministry official said the two sides hoped to resume negotiations this month, possibly around mid-June.

47.   The senior finance ministry official said Hong kong and Singapore have not sought any compensation in exchange for their cooperation with Tokyo.

48.   Leaders at the Group of Seven summit starting here Friday have a common understanding on exchange rates, a senior Japanese finance ministry official said here Thursday.

49.   Malaysia is cautious towards undertaking further yen borrowings and will continue to refinance existing loans in the Japanese currency, a senior Malaysian finance ministry official said Wednesday.

50.   Other proposals included cooperation between ASEAN export-import banks and annual meetings for senior finance ministry officials.