【古風按】從去年八月份以來，中國所持美債額度就開始穩步下降，到了歲末更是一次性地賣出了1千多億元的美債（見上圖）！同時，大家都知道中國一直是個國際貿易順差國，每年都要積累巨額的外儲，可是，為何到了2011年中後期，外儲不見漲了呢？原來，貓膩就在黃金之中（見下圖）：中國政府正在通過香港的渠道在國際黃金市場上大力收購黃金，為即將到來的美元體系崩潰和國際新的黃金貨幣掛鈎體製做準備了。作為個人投資人，古風也一直在極力建議大家去投資黃金。如果您有真金白銀，就把實貨存到香港的銀行里去。因為一旦現行的美元體系崩潰，美國政府就會重新干起羅斯福總統以前在大蕭條時期幹過的活：搜繳美國民間的金銀，充實國庫。大家不可不防啊。

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/chinese-gold-imports-hong-kong-rise-nearly-13-fold-%E2%80%93-pboc-likely-buying-dip-again

Chinese Gold Imports From Hong Kong Rise Nearly 13 Fold
by Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge, 11 April 2012

Chinese gold demand remains very strong as seen in the importation of 40 metric tonnes or nearly 40,000 kilos of gold bullion from Hong Kong alone in February.

Hong Kong's gold exports to China in February were nearly 13 times higher than the 3,115 kilograms in the same month last year, the data shows.

Shipments were 72,617 kilograms in the first two months, compared with 10,564 kilograms a year ago or nearly a seven fold increase from the record levels seen last year.

China's appetite for gold remains strong and Chinese demand alone is likely to put a floor under the gold market.

Mainland China bought 39,668 kilograms (39.668 metric tons), up from 32,948 kilograms in January, according to export data from the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong government.

Demand has picked up again after the Lunar New Year and demand has climbed in China as rising incomes and concerns about inflation lead to store of value buying.

There is also a concern about the Chinese stock market which has gone sideways since 2001 and increasing concerns that various property markets in China look like bubbles ready to burst.

Consumer demand for gold beat India for the first time in almost three years in the fourth quarter and China may replace India as the biggest buyer annually this year.

The massive gold purchases may signal the People’s Bank of China is continuing to secretly accumulate gold reserves.

Reuters report that there are suspicions that the number could include purchases from the public sector, as the market was largely quiet during a post-Lunar New Year holiday slump in February. "On the public level, China's central bank will continue to accumulate gold, which is easier than liberalising their capital account and currency," said Friesen of SocGen, adding that building gold reserves would help China's push to turn the renminbi into a global currency.

Accommodative monetary policy will remain an incentive for private investors to buy into gold, he added.

The nation last made its reserves known more than two years ago, stating them to be 1,054 tons.

The PBOC's gold reserves remain small compared to those of the Federal Reserve and many European nations. Their gold reserves remain tiny when compared to their massive foreign exchange reserves of $3.2 Trillion.

It is important to note that in past years, Hong Kong gold imports have accounted for about half of China's total gold imports. China itself doesn't publish gold import data and the very high and increasing demand from Hong Kong is only a component of overall Chinese demand.

The per capita consumption of 1.3 billion people continues to increase from a near zero base meaning that this is indeed a paradigm shift and not a blip or ‘flash in the pan’.

It means that gold will likely see record nominal highs - possibly before the end of the year.

Prudent western buyers wishing to protect and grow wealth will again buy gold on the dip as the Chinese are doing.