1200 permits daily for train passengers alone, it was obvious the system must either go by default or else a first class row would almost certainly develop with hundreds of irate passengers who had been compelled to miss their train in order to make a five mile pilgrimage to the Consulate. I, therefore, took the opportunity of the offer of a free lift to and from Hongkong by an American plane on 12th December in order to discuss this point with the Hongkong Government. As a result of our discussions it was decided to abolish the system on 14th November with a fitting amount of publicity:
37. The result was almost magical in immediately improving relations between Canton and Hongkong It has, however, undoubtedly. added to Hongkong's food problems as the inflow of population steadily exceeds the outflow. On the other hand, it is questionable had the system remained, whether British ships would ever have been permitted to bring some hundreds of tons of foodstuffs from Swatow to Hongkong. On balance the abolition of the system has almost certainly benefitted Hongkong even if only because it means another wartime restriction has been removed.
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