12
It would appear to us from the fact that in-
structions are issued by the Colonial Office in London
and by the Hong Kong Government, that this Organisation should be regarded as a Government Department, especially since part of the cost of administration is charged to
the Colony's Budget. If this assumption is correct, and
in view of a directive from London that the funds of this
Organisation were not to be diverted to the General Re-
venue of the Colony, the question arises, why has the
Organisation been required to pay Petrol Tax to the Hong
Kong Government for the year under review and to make
provision in respect of similar retrospective charges
which, at the date of this report, remain unpaid. If
this Organisation is a Government Department it would
appear that the Department is exempt from payment of
Rates under Ordinance No. 6 of 1901 Section 39(2) F.
The most important aspect of these unanswered
questions is that the General Revenues of the Colony, as
shown in the Budget Statements presented to Legislative
Council, may have been inflated with Government's own
money without any qualifying note to this effect.
V
In conclusion, we have to report that, subject
to the contingencies enumerated in Paragraph IV and else–
where in this report, the attached Balance Sheet of the
Government Wholesale Vegetable Market is properly drawn
up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the state
of the Market's affairs as at 31st March, 1950, according
to the best of our information and the explanations given
to us and as shown by the books submitted to us.
SBM:AB
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servants,
lowe Ringhandy ath I. Anghaudathas
44