0003230
G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
2
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7.
a) The Director of Commerce and Industry has legal
povers to control imports and exports and does exercise a control over the import and export of rice and frozen meat. He is also responsible for the distribution of rice and the feeding of essential services and departments in an emergency.
b)
The Director of Agriculture and Fisheries has responsibility for assisting agricultural production, the fishing industry and for supervising the operations of the Fish and Vegetable Wholesale Marketing Organisations. He is responsible for the quarantine and health of live animals imported for food; and he also advises the Director of Urban Services on other animal health matters, particularly in relation to the import of frozen meat.
c) The Director of Urban Services has responsibilities
for public health measures governing the sale of fresh and prepared food, for the operation of urban abattoirs and for the supervision of a number of 'Government wholesale and retail markets in which
private stall holders operate.
In order to co-ordinate action in respect to food supplies in the light of the local disorders, an Emergency Food Control Committee was set up in June, 1967 and held twenty meetings before it was disbanded in December, 1967. It has now been decided that the work of this Committee should be taken over by two permanent committees :-
8.
a)
the Food Supplies Co-ordination Committee dealing with the importation and local production of food; and
b) the Food Distribution Planning Committee dealing with plans for the internal control of foodstuffs supplied to the public in certain circumstances.
In accordance with its general free-port policy and its reluctance to interfere with internal commercial transactions, Government has allowed all food, with the exception of rice, to be imported, stocked and retailed entirely on commercial principles.
Sources of Supplies
9.
Imports from China The import pattern of Hong Kong's food is determined by market forces except in the case of rice which is a reserved commodity. These imports are not influenced by any Government interference except such as may be necessary in the interests of public health. But as the population is basically Chinese there is a natural demand for food from China. In addition China markets foodstuffs in Hong Kong more cheaply than any other country. Having a state controlled economy China is able to decide what food supplies it will send to Hong Kong in the light of its own population's need for food and its need for the foreign exchange which it can obtain from Hong Kong by
CONFIDENTIAL
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