CRI听力:A Greek Exit from the Euro Zone Favorable to the UK?

Although the UK is not in the Euro zone, it doesn't mean it's exempt from the consequences of the current debt crisis.

Britain's central bank governor, Mervyn King.

"Our banking system is exposed to the Euro area, snd that will have an impact on their capital position. And our trade position is we saw last year our exports to the non-EU countries rise, to the EU, they fell. So we certainly are going to be affected." 

But as to whether Greece should stay or exit from the Euro Zone, and what damages or benefits such moves could bring, the governor of the Bank of England is reluctant to say.

So is the British Prime Minister David Cameron.

"It either has to make up or it is looking at a potential break up. That is the choice they have to make."

"I think diplomatically Britain just wants to keep out of the debate because of the fact it's not a member of the euro zone."

Philip Booth, a former Bank of England advisor on financial stability issues, now teaches at the Cass Business School at City University London.

"But I would certainly be surprised if David Cameron and Mervyn King didn't have a view privately. And I think it might actually be better if these things were discussed more publicly because should Greece leave, there were going to be a whole series of consequences and difficult problems which are going to be managed. The more these things are discussed in the open, the more likely we are to be able to find appropriate solutions to managing these problems."

Although the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has repeatedly declared his intent to ensure Greece remains a part of the zone, Professor Booth says a Greek exit seems to be the most stable, and possibly the only, option available.

"Two years ago, perhaps there were some other options. We needed a big internal adjustment within the Greek economy, restructuring of Greek debts and so on. But now I think it's reached the point where those things could not happen quickly enough to prevent the continuous chaos within the euro zone."

Booth says if a Greek exit is successful, then other countries with debt problems, such as Portugal, Spain and Italy, could be queuing to leave the euro zone.

Is this a desirable situation for the UK? Politicians may be hesitant to answer, but average citizens are more willing to express their views. Here is Cathal Meehan.

"The UK has to supplement it as well. So it means there's going to be less money going out of the UK 'cause it's struggling. The bottom line is that everybody is trying to save money. That's why we're saving money. Does that mean it's gonna be good or bad? I don't know."

For CRI, I'm Tu Yun, reporting from London.