7.
8.
9.
96
(2)
The civil food situation in the NEW TERRITORIE was reported on October, 1st, 1945 to be acute. All types of currency were in use in the villages. 55 Chinese cents changing hands for $1.H.K. There was o exchange for the SHANGHAI dollar. Throughout the Colony as a whole the chief anxiety has been high prices, the ti hness of supplies, and tle glave shortage of rice, coal and firewood. In addition to the dispa ch of "WOODCOCK" to HONDAY for coal and mentioned above, special emissaries ha e been sent to SANDAKAN for firewood and KWANG-CHOW WAY for peanut oil. influx of Chinese has been incareasi g but as yet does not constit te a ma jor problem. The imposition of price control pon rice, bread, peanu oil, sugar and asalt has met with at least partial initial s ccess.
The
The Chinese population is awaitin the resumption of trade wi h reasonable patience but i remains a matter of prime concern to tlen. There has been quite a heavy flow of trade enquiries passing through Cable & Wireless including offers for sale of American goods.
SUSIECTED ERSONS
The British Consul in MAÇAO has been requested to report upon the activities of Cdr. HORACIO FAFIA PEREIFA, com anding officer of the Fortuguese Sloop, "CO CALVES VALEO" last reported as leaving COLO`RO on 17th September, 1945 for MACAO via SINGAPORE. LE ETA is known to be anti-British, ardently pro- azi and of notorious character, but there is no actual proof that he worked for the Germa.£. He was kept nder close watch during the period of Tis chip's docking and refit a DUT BAN.
WAR ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE.
The annoucement of the formation by the C. in C of War Activi ies Committee, to enquire into cases of aleged co-operation wi h the Japanese during the Occupation, has led to a fair amount of com.ent in the local press. The chief point made by the papers is that the functions of the Committee must of necessity fall under two main heads.
J
(1) The committal to trial of those against whom a lima facie case of co-operation exists and (2) the pub exoneration of those whose activities, despite all appearances and private opilions to the contrary, are found to have bee.. harmless. The South China Mornin, Fost ad H.K. Telegraph lists no fewer than 26 catagories of "co-operation" with greater or lesser degrees of heinsness, "so that none shall escape of fcial otice" and offers its list to the Committee, together with a few of the excuses which can be pleaded. The China Maid lugubriously comen's that the Committee, in tackling a thanklest job, ca. expect
one.
The Committee's first meeting took place yesterday October 3rd.
REVIVAL OF LOCAL SHIFTING.
The China Navigation Company's ship "FATSA⠀" is ready to res me traffic with CAN ON, for which purpose she was built, a d it si felt that the service should be put i to operation as soon as possible. The British Ambassador at CHINGKING has been asked to obtain the consent of he Chinese Government to the proposal, which, as "FATSAN" has not been under requisition to the Ministry of War Transport, would presemably constitute a British private venture, nless she were to be requisitio ed by he HONGKONG Government.
Several British coasters are expected back here before the end of
October.
Fermits have been issued to 20 motor junks a d 146 sailia-
junks of 30 to 100 tons practically all of which are trading to MACAO? SHIKIN? TAIKONG, SANMEI and AWATOW while a few run to Canton. To date inpor s
have included rice, pigs, ducks, ílour, te etables, beens, mut oil Chinaware, cattle, paday brau peanuts, wheat, salt, s gar, charcoal, wi e wood, oil, fruit, lime, eELS, vegetable seeds and a small quanyity of fire wood.