DEPARTMENT OF SUPPLIES, TRANSPORT & INDUSTRY
REPORT AT THE END OF THE 1st QUARTER OF RE-OCCUPATION
27th NOVEMBER, 1945.
187
During the past three months, in the midst of pressing problems, it has been necessary to set them on one side for the purpose of deciding, sometimes on inadequate data, a new problem which would brook no delay. The period has been beset by lack of staff, lack of supplies and a long series of problems arising from the chaos left behind by the Jap- anese. In the circumstances much has been accomplished. Very much more remains to be done.
During those months the Chinese of Hongkong have been fed from three sources. Foods left behind when the Japanee surrendered (large quantities of these stocks were looted). Foods brought from the mainland (sometimes smuggled); and three shiploads of rice from overseas amounting to 16,400 tons. The arrival of the "NINGHAI" on 14th November, with 2,200 tons rice averted a rice famine with all the serious consequences which that would have brought in its train. At time of writing a few oddments of sundry stores amount- ing to 338 tons have arrived, comprising:-
Condensed Milk, Powdered Milk, Salt, Vegetables Tobacco and Disinfectant.
C
dehydrated,
There are in sight shipments of 330 tons of condensed milk, 340 tons of canned meats, 270 tons of frozen Foodstuffs and 850 tons flour. The Nanchang E.T.A. early December will carry 4300 tons made up of flour, sugar, pulses, and tinned foods.
During the quarter the coal and firewood situation has caused considerable work and difficulty. In normal times, Hongkong would have fifty thousand tons of coal in stock and ten thousand tons of firewood. There were periods when the China Light & Power Co., kept their plant going on fire- wood, a hopelessly uneconomic fuel for the furnaces; and even this fuel threatened to become unobtainable in sufficient quantity. In the very early days, wood was looted from ruined houses and used as firewood. In these circumstances every effort was made to obtain coal from sources within the China seas. Two shipments (2,800 tons) of Anthracite Dust were brought from Hongay (F.I.C.). One shipment of 8,000 tons of Bituminous Coal from Chin Wang Tao. A ship- ment from Japan is also expected. Coal from overseas totalled about 17,000 tons. It is emphasised, however, that with all these shipments we are merely struggling along.There is no re- serve of any kind for needs constantly arising, and increas- ing from the very fact of progress in rehabilitation.
For all our efforts we have not yet succeeded in ob- taining any shipments of firewood from overseas. Two months ago a Civil Affairs Officer was sent to Borneo to arrange for the supply of firewood. Certain stocks have been cut, but a pre-essential of shipment is shallow-draft craft to bring the firewood to the coast. It is hoped that a ship- ment will arrive soon. Meantime, small stocks flow from the New Territories meagrely supplemented by some cutting on the Island. Recently a small stock was released to the public on a rationed basis, when a card system was used.