PRESS DIGEST - Hong Kong - July 14

HONG KONG, July 14 (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.

HONG KONG ECONOMIC TIMES

-- Bank of China (3988.HK) unit BOCI has applied for a private banking licence for a target service launch by year's end. It aims to manage assets worth HK$6 billion within two years.

APPLE DAILY

-- Securities circles and industries expect retail sales to only record single-digit percentage growth this year as the second half-year outlook is gloomy with a slowdown predicted.

-- Two suspected traffickers from Canada bringing in more than 13 kilograms of cocaine were arrested at the airport. Acting on a tip, police stopped the pair and found the drug hidden in four protein powder jars.

SING TAO DAILY

-- Mainland-based toilet paper maker Vinda (3331.HK) aims to boost production to 100,000 tonnes within the next 24 months in a plan involving capital expenditure of as much as 300 million yuan.

-- Chief Executive Donald Tsang is expected to add a HK$5 billion financial relief package for the people. Items such as textbook allowances for parents with children in school are being considered.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

-- Telecom operator PCCW (0008.HK) is under pressure from lenders to lift its proposed pricing target of 150 basis points above LIBOR on a US$3 billion syndication loan.

-- Asia Aluminium Holdings, which was delisted from the main board in 2006 due to poor share performance, plans to float again by next year with Hong Kong as its preferred market.

THE STANDARD

-- China property stocks surged last week due to a possible relaxation of mainland tightening measures, but analyts remain doubtful whether the rally is sustainable.

-- Human rights activists have accused the government of conducting a campaign of misinformation in an attempt to run down the controversial anti-discrimination law. One said officials are exaggerating potential difficulties, particularly relating to the clause concerning language discrimination.

SING PAO