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in respect of the period from the date of liberation
until the late summer of 1946. There will be no
objection to firms making arrangements at ones to
import supplementary supplies of goods in the above
categories or supplies of any other description for
re-sale (provided an import licence has been obtained),
though it should be added that in certain cases such
as food and textiles, they may not, owing to shortage
of supplies, find it possible to obtain any supplementary
quantities,
4. Internal distribution of supplies procured
by the Government will be entrusted to ordinary
commercial channels.
5.
It is necessary to establish exchange control
in Hong Kong as elsewhere. To make exchange control
effective, it is necessary further to introduce an
import licensing system on the general lines of those
in force in the United Kingdom and in all Colonial
territories.
6. all importing and distributing firms should
as soon as possible make the necessary art
to resume their full sctivities in order to ensure
continuity of the Colony's supplies. It is possible
that some commodities may still be subject to bulk
purchasing arrangements by the Government after
September, 1946. In that event the firme vill
notified in due course through Goverment channels,
Bad of suggested announcement,
The foregoing draft was prepared in the Colonial
Office and has not yet been discussed with other Departments
conce : ned. Do not repeat not anticipate any substantial
changes and should be grateful for your comments soonest.
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