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433
}
3:
The fact is that it is unnecessary to draw
up any scheme for the collection and distribution of supplies for the civil population. There is always a supply of rice and flour sufficient to provide for the whole civil population for at least three months, while cattle and vegetables can be obtained from Kwong Chau Wan (30 hours), possibly also chickens if the supply from the province of Kuang Tung should be cut off. The New Territories can also supply a fair amount of vegetables. The local stocks of coal and firewood are enough as a general rule for about 2 or 3 months if controlled.
In the event of a threatened attack on the
Colony by a naval force or from the land side, it is practically certain that there would be a stampede from the Colony of a large proportion of the Chinese population and this would ease the problem of providing food
4.
considerably.
5.
For the European population there is a sufficient supply of frozen meat to last for a considerable period, and the Dairy Farm, Ice and Cold Storage Company can provide ice, milk and butter for a large portion of the civil population.
6.
There is a scheme for providing for all essential services, which is to some extent in operation as I write this despatch. It is primarily intended to meet the necessities of a general strike, but would of course be brought into force in the event of the usual sources of labour not being available from other causes.
7:
If it is the desire of His Majesty's Goverment that special stocks of previsions should be kept in connection with the defence of the Celony I can only suggest that the system in force in Gibraltar and Malta whereby the cost of providing such supplies is met
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