CONFIDENTIAL
6
SECURITY OF WAREHOUSES, MARKETS, ABATTOIRS, ETC.
17.
•
Protection of warehouses, markets
and
abattoirs is a police responsibility. Certain installations are already graded as Potential Closed However, manpower requirements would not permit all Food Unit premises to be provided with a static police guards.
Areas.
18.
The Occupier of any unit premises who considers that physical protection is required, should request the same directly from the local Police District Commander. Dependent upon their other commitments at the time, units of the Customs and Excise Service may also be employed for this
purpose.
19.
Due to the smallness of the force and other commitments that the Customs and Excise Service may need to continue, there is unlikely to be a large pool of armed and disciplined personnel available. Any guards that the Customs and Excise Service can supply for the protection of vehicles, essential workers or premises may need to be supplemented by the regular Security Forces, dependent upon the situation at the time.
RATIONING
20.
Only relatively short-term shortages can realistically be envisaged and measures to combat them would not include an attempt to impose a general scheme of rationing.
21. Kong's
for a
However, in the unlikely event that Hong supplies of food from abroad were interrupted protracted period, the Food Control Committee might consider detailed arrangements for rationing, paying particular attention to the question of the production and issue of ration cards.
PUBLICITY
22.
To avoid misunderstanding and subsequent panic buying, it is essential that the general public be given clear and accurate information both prior to and during any emergency supply period. Duplication of efforts and, more important, contradictory statements will be averted by channelling all publicity through the Deputy Director of Agriculture and Fisheries who will be the Food Unit spokesman.
CONFIDENTIAL
312