OCTY FOR REGISTRATION
CYPHER TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Dated 10th January, 1938.
No.13.
23
END
Received 10.54 a.m., 10th January,
Following for your information.
I learn that Natural Resources Commission of
China with which Soong is connected and which is handling Chinese Government's stores tirough its branch in Hong Kong
1s experiencing great difficulty in finding storage for
GeesЄpetrol.
is an
رايه
مين
бору
a.
I am informed that four ships are now lying in
Hong Kong waters holding in all approximately 130 thousand
drums of 50 American gallons each and that consignments
amounting to approximately 170 thousand drums are
approaching. Commission has 2 sites on the shore adapted
for petrol storage, one leased from the Government and one
from an industrial company, but these together can
100,000
accommodate about 1,000 drums only.
Clearance of these
stocks to Canton can only proceed slowly as it is being
carried only by a few small river ateamships. Local
branches of principal oil companies have been approached
for storage facilities: I gather that they are averse from
store arrangement of drums which have once been the
property of the Chinese Government but would consider
decanting on purchase and re-sale terms.