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HONG KONG (D.T.D.)
PRIORITY COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
CYPHER/CAT.A
TELNO. 1864
ΤΟ
8 SEPTEMBER 1967
(HWB 7/5)
SECRET.
2 YOUR SAVINGRAM NO. 1329 OF 14 JULY
1329 OF 14 JULY - ESSENTIAL FOOD SUPPLIES.
(2)
WE HAVE TAKEN UP WITH THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES
AND FOOD ITEMS (B),, (D) AND (F) OF YOUR PARAGRAPH 4 WITH THE
FOLLOWING RESULTS:-
(A) WE ARE HAVING A MEETING NEXT WEEK WITH THE MINISTRY'S MEAT EXPERT AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MEAT TRADERS'
ASSOCIATION FROM WHICH WE HOPE TO SECURE USEFUL INFORMATION ON
SUPPLY, SHIPMENT AND STORAGE. YOU WILL BE INFORMED OF THE OUTCOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:
(B) THE MINISTRY ARE EXAMINING THE QUESTION OF RELEASING TINNED MEAT FROM THEIR STOCKPILE. THEY DO NOT STOCK FROZEN MEAT
BUT THE TRADE DOES AND OUR MEETING SHOULD SECURE DETAILS:
(C) THE ONLY RATIONING EXPERT HERE WITH THE ALL-ROUND KNOWLEDGE YOU REQUIRE IS UNABLE FOR MEDICAL REASONS TO UNDERTAKE OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS. BUT THE MINISTRY WOULD BE HAPPY TO TRAIN A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICER WHO, FOR SECURITY REASONS, WOULD HAVE TO BE A (BRITISH) EXPATRIATE. TRAINING IS SEEN AS TAKING TWO TO THREE WEEKS, A MONTH AT THE OUTSIDE AND WOULD ENABLE THE OFFICER, WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE OF HONG KONG'S CONDITIONS, TO DRAW ON THE WIDEST
POSSIBLE RANGE OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCE HERE.
(D) THE SERVICES MIGHT BE THE BEST SOURCE FOR AN EXPERT ON FOOD SUPPLY, BUT IN ABSENCE OF CLEAR INDICATION OF YOUR REQUIREMENTS, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE MUCH HEADWAY. GRATEFUL FOR ADVICE ON
THE DUTIES YOU WOULD WISH HIM TO UNDERTAKE SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS FURTHER.
CROSEC
FILES
H.K. & W.I.D. 'C'
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22152/8 SEPTEMBER 1967
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HWD
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