CO537-(1262-1649) — Page 375

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000 15

CIPHER TELEGRAM

092025

15.

124/Hong Kong/5.

This message will not be distributed outside British Government Departments or Headquarters or re-transmitted, even in cipher, without being paraphrased: (Messages marked O.T.P. need not be paraphrased.)

Recd. 071845 Mar 46

D.T.0. 0607182.,

15

From: CinC Hong Kong.

To: The War Office.

Colonial Office.

Embassy, Chungking.

Consul General, Canton.

Cabinet Offices.

IMMEDIATE

060732 cipher 7 Mar.

SECRET

Following is paraphrased version of my 060730Z March passed to Canton through other channels.

Begins in view of the precarious rice situation,.

it has been decided to restrict further registration for obtaining the Govt retion of rico which has already been halved' the following notification will be issued MT 0800Z on Friday, 8th March. Begins...

Para Two.

(A) Hong Kong depends for substantially the whole

of its rice supply on allocations made to this Colony by the Combined Food Board in Washington. These allocations are based on total world requirements and available supplies, the Colony in principle receiving an allocation proportionato to its population, the allocations aro made quarterly and obviously cannot take into account unpredictable increases of population due to immigration.

(B) The British Military Administration of Hongkong has given its anxious consideration to the whole question of

rice rationing in relation to the circumstances indicated abovo.

The Administration considers that much as it rould liko to

/provide...

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CO 537/1402

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet

Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright.

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CO 537/1402

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copynght y of National Archives' leaflet.

of supply o