- 7 -
Out of a total of
asparagus, grape fruit and pineapple crush, beetroot, sweet
pickles, tomatoes and fruit mince meat.
800,000 cases received 25,000 cases or slightly over 3% were condemned and destroyed; this is considered a very low
proportion for canned goods of this type and condition.
The
On the financial side provision was made in
fixing selling prices for these prospective losses and no
financial loss was incurred on the complete transaction.
figure of $249,000 quoted as the value of the goods written
off is a token figure only; as the goods were purchased for a
lump sum and no financial loss was incurred, no real value can
be assigned to them.
It should also be stressed that, once the goods
had been condemned by the Health authorities, it was necessary
to proceed with their disposal immediately both on grounds of
public health and to avoid further storage charges.
(e) Paras. 45-48.
Much of the
The comments of the Director of Audit on trade
with Japan are, as he himself admits, based on incomplete
information regarding the considerations involved.
correspondence relating to Japanese trade is Secret and may not
yet be disclosed, but it is common knowledge that His Majesty's
Government has made with the Supreme Commander, Allied Powers,
an Overall Agreement governing trade between the sterling area
and Japan, and that Hong Kong has been excluded from this
agreement. This has given rise to some confusion as certain
requirements under the sterling area agreement to which the
Director of Audit has drawn attention such as the necessity for
restricting imports to essentials do not apply to this Colony.
The implication in paragraph 48 of the Report
that this Government is not conforming with the instructions of
the Secretary of State is based on a misunderstanding of the
position and is not accepted.
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