rotariat file 7/2526/48. Mental Office 409/17 ▲ ▲/es.
SAVINGRAM
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
From the Governor, Hong Kong.
Date
No.....
24th March, 1951. 350
Your accounts savingram of 14th September, 1950.
Agricultural village depots
W
Colonial Development
and Welfare scheme D.994.
The scheme was originally submitted for consideration in my despatch No. 244 of 23rd October, 1947, as recommendation No.5. It was at that time envisaged that these agricultural village depota should be under the direct control of the Agricultural Department and in my savingram No.487 of 15th July, 1948, there was, again, no reference to the linking of the depots with the Vegetable Marketing sohene,
Juv ue
In your savingram No.945 of 22nd September, 1948, approving C.D. and W. scheme D.994, you stipulated that the grant was made on the understanding that the profits of the Government Wholesale Vegetable Market would continue to be ploughed back into the business and not diverted into general revenus, In respect of the market this condition has, of ♬ course, been fulfilled. Your savingram also made reference
to the view expressed by Dr. Kerklots that it was impracticable to account separately for the earnings of the village depots. It was asumed that this advics was accepted by you and that you wished the scheme to be administered by the Vegetable Marketing Organisation, which at that time was under the general control of the Agricultural Department. In consequence the account s
of the village depots were incorporated in those of the Government Wholesale Vegetable Market,
3.
A sinking fund has been created to provide for the repayment of the lean of £9,375 for the depots from the profits of the market and I will address you before the end of 1954. regarding this repayment.
It is regretted that no detailed estimates were originally prepared in respect of expenditure from Colonial Development and Welfare funds on village agricultural depots for the financial years 1948/49 and 1949/50. Expenditure amounting to $61,927.66 and $69,345 respectively was of course approved in principle and subsequently authorised retrospectively in detail. Detailed estimates were prepared and authorized in respect of 1950/51.
RMI:TDS: IS
WK & PAN
6 APR 1951