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Wednesday, March 6, 1974
DIRECT SALES OF RICE TO MAJOR RETAIL OUTLETS
Officials of the Commerce and Industry Department had a series
of meetings today with representatives of the rice trade to discuss possible
measures to improve the operation of the rice control scheme.
A spokesman for the department said that full support was given
to arrangements for major retail outlets to obtain rice from importers at
prevailing market rates.
"The prices they will charge will provide an accurate indication of
fair retail prices which should prevail ncross the whole of the retail
sector of the trade," he added.
The major retail stores involved in the arrangements include Shui
Hing, Park 'N Shop, Dairy Farm, Asia, Wing On and Dainaru.
Shui Hing has already put top-grade China See Mow rice on sale at
$2.10 per catty after obtaining supplies direct from importers at last week's
prevailing market rates.
These prices will be raised to a maximum of $2.40 per catty when
further supplies are obtained at the new rates which came into effect on Monday,
March 4,
There is legal provision in the legislation governing the operation of
the rice control scheme for the Director of Commerce and Industry to instruct
importers to sell rice directly to any designated company.
At the present time about 25 retailers are permitted to purchase rice
directly from importers. There is also provision for at least 12 major employers,
including factories, commercial. companies and hospitals to make direct purchases.