12
(1) Hong Kong in (4) has asked for separate
advance approval of the proposal for village depots recommendation No. 5 in Hong Kong despatch No. 244 of the 23rd October 1947 (3 on the 1947 file).
(ii)
4.
J
a despatch - copy at (6) has come in which
deals in large part in reply to
K
Production B Department's despatch No. 107 of the 10th April (copy at 3) - with a proposal for the grant of £50,000 towards the mechanisation of the Hong Kong Fishing fleet recommendation No. 11 in Hong Kong despatch No. 244 of the 23rd October 1947.
As regards (i) please see paragraph 2 of my minute of 12/5 and Mr. Harding's minute of 18/5. I appreciate the force of Mr. Harding's remarks but at least one of the questions it is suggested should be put to Hong Kong would be difficult to answer viz. what revenue is expected to arise from the operations of the village depots. As I understand this proposal the village depots would not by themselves be revenue producing though, if and when they get going, they would play their part in the vegetable marketing scheme. The depots would have other functions, as points of contact between the Agricultural Department and the farmers, besides those connected with vegetable marketing. As Dr. Herklots is in this country it occurs to me that much of the information required by
Mr. Harding might be obtained from him and we might with his assistance be able to put up this proposal for C. D. & W. assistance without further reference to Hong Kong. It would in my view be essential for a representative of Finance Department to be present at the discussion with Dr. Herklots.
on
5. As regards (ii), our proposed comment this recommendation in our generfdespatch is a reference to Production B Departments despatch of the 10th April. That despatch expressed doubts as to the wisdom of providing the money for the initial mechanisation of the fishing fleet from C.D. & W. funds and invited the Governor's further views in the light of these comments. The Governor has now sent his further views and reiterated and reinforced his original recommendation for/grant of £50,000 from C.D. & W. funds.
a
Our proposed comment is therefore out of date and a definite decision has now to be taken as to whether we should support the Governor's recommendation or not.
No.9
This particular project has rather got itself on to Production B papers. There is no difficulty about the 3 other specifically "Fishery" recommendations viz. Nos. 9, 10 and 12. (improvement of landing facilities at Kennedy Town) and No. 10 (reclamation at Aberdeen) have already been approved and as regards No. 12 the Treasury have agreed that in our proposed, despatch we should accept this recommendation (for a pond fisheries survey) in principle and agree to the incurent of
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expenditur e