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Mr. Fung Wa Chun.-Do you think that the food will be cheaper if the Govern- ment were to reduce the rents ?
A.-I think if the rents of the stalls were reduced below their market value people would sub-let as they used to do.
Q. What do you mean by sub-letting?
A.If they were to pay the Market rent and offer the business to some one else and pocket the difference between the rent received from these people and the Market
rent.
Q. In your opinion does the present system affect the price of food very much?
A.-No, I don't think it does owing to the way in which food is sold. Food is sold in such small quantities that although you were to reduce the stall rents the pro- portionate reduction on each sale effected would be so small that the stall-keeper could not make it. The reduction of rent whatever it might do with the wholesale trade could not do much to affect the small sales.
Q.-Supposing a stall-keeper wanted to give each of his customers the full benefit of the reduction of his rent?
A.--I don't think he possibly could.
Mr. Marshall.--Have you formed any idea as to the reason for the increase in the provisions?
A.-I think, perhaps, that we don't get our supplies from a large enough area. Sometimes there is a scarcity and consequently up goes the price.
Mr. Francis. Do you think that the supply is equal to the recently increased demand? Your last reply seems to indicate that the source of supply is not large enough for the increasing demands of the Colony.
A.-I know that they are actually sold out of certain things occasionally. One day I know there was not a pound of mutton left in the Market at one o'clock.
Q. Have you known that of beef?
A.-I don't know about beef, but I have known it of eggs.
Q.-Was that during the commencement of the war with the Philippines?
A.-I think both happened this year.
Q. What, in your opinion, has been the increase in the foreign population of Hongkong within the last two years ?
A.-I have no idea at all.
Q.-Do you think that the Registrar General's returns or the returns of the Sani- tary Board are correct or understated ?
A.- -You mean the estimated figures? I think they are more likely to be under- estimated than over-estimated.
Q.--Have you seen much of the New Territory?
A.-No, very little.
Q. Can you help us in any way from your experience with reference to this ques- tion of food supply as to the causes, if any, for this recent very considerable rise, or can you suggest anything by way of providing a larger supply or a larger area from which a supply could be drawn?
A.-I have no suggestion to make.