Report No. 2 to London
Page 2.
60
in the New Territories.
It is intended to release this firewood to house-holders who have registered with the selected dealers. Ration cards have been already printed and allotted to the dealers. It is also intended to release some 10,000 piculs of Charcoal for the purpose of easing the firewood shortage.
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7.) SHIPPING AND PROCUREMENT SECTION This section commenced to function on October 16th, 1945, under Major li. Talan. Its duties include liaison between J.T. I Branch with H.0.1.2., S. T.0. and F.E. 3•• Incoming telegrams relating to all ... supplies are recorded and their effect registered. Outgoing telegrams will also be drafted and submitted for transmission. It is essential to send manifests and Bills of Landing covering Civil Affairs cargo to this section as long in advance of the arrival of the cargoes as possible.
8.) GODON SECTION. It is hoped that the procedure for the release of ex-Japanese cargo will be settled soon. Stock cards have been produced for all cargo in godowns and deliveries are now being posted. It is hoped that this work will be completed in ten days' time.
9.) RELIEF SECTION. The number drawing rations is now 920. Of these nearly 300 are orphans (Chinese) who get rice, soya beans, soya sauce, sugar and salt. 110 Latin Americans and 494 Portuguese and other nationals are drawing rations. 26 Chinese wives of British Soldiers are also being supplied. The Tung ah and Chinese Charitable Societies continue to give a meal of rice at 3 p.m. to over 20,000 Chinese in urban and rural areas.
10.) TRANSPORT SECTION. Much repair work is held up owing to shortage of spare-parts. Drivers and Fitters want higher wages. The total number of serviceable vehicles at date is: - 221
consisting of Cars
Lorries
Motor Cycles
112
95
14
221
Some 66 other vehicles are under repair and one is still missing. The shortage of transport affects the working of all departments.
11.) PRICE CONTROL AND RATIONING SECTION. A plan is under con- sideration for the distribution and price control of C... supplies when these arrive. At present it is thought that Civil Affairs will act as wholesalers with reputable Chinese dealers as retailers. These shops may be called Government shops. They will be subject to inspection and any breach of prices would immediately result in their being closed down. As soon as flour arrives, it is hoped to reduce the price of bread from IK $4.00 per pound to HK$0.30 per pound.
12.) IMPORTS & EXPORTO SECTION. The collection of revenue from liquor and tobacco in the form of duties and licences has commenced but owing to present conditions it will be some time before any large amount of money in the form of Excise and Customs Duty will be collected. In 1941 tobacco was a more important source of revenue than liquor. There were three cigarette factories, four cigar fac- tories and about six Chinese prepared tobacco factories. Une of the cigarette factories is open and two will reopen in the future. The collection of tobacco duty has commenced and supplies of raw leaf are expected in the reasonably near future. Tobacco dealers' and retailers' licences are being issued.
A system of water front patrols was commenced early in September with the object of ascertaining what types of cargo were moving on the Victoria waterfront and in Kowloon. These patrols have been success- ful in several cases of attempted export of prohibited goods and in one particularly bad case the exporter was prosecuted and fined.