15
impossible for them to give certificates as to the
health of live-stock slaughtered up country and it
is impossible to get rid of the conviction that
their subordinate staff will always be open to
bribery.
The obvious deduction would therefore seem to
be that we should refuse to accept the certificates
issued by the Bureau. There is, however, another
aspect of the case. The potentialities of the export
trade in Lard from Shanghai to the United Kingdom is
very considerable and it is a pity that this trade
should be closed to local British firms.
I am informed that at the present time Chinese
dealers ship lard to Hong Kong where it is mixed
with the local product and after examination by the
Government Analyst, exported to England. I make this
statement with all reservation but I was so informed
not only by Mr. Tsou but also by a foreign exporter.
Again, I understand that the high temperature
at which lard is boiled in the process of manufacture
must destroy all bacteria, and while I do not presume
to express an opinion on this point possibly the
home authorities might be prepared to consider it.
To sum up, while I cannot advise that the Bureau's
certificates should be accepted as satisfactory
proof of the purity of the food products concerned,
I venture to enquire whether they might not be
accepted in the case of Lard to the extent of allow-
ing