CO129-504-18 Food supply for the civilian population in event of war 7-4-1927 - 12-12-1927 — Page 14

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the Chamber of Commerce if possible to send in a regular

quarterly return of rice stocked in godowns. If for any

external reasons annual stocks in godowns fall below say

200,000 bags it would appear time enough to consider the

question of insisting on a reserve being held.

12. Flour is not greatly used by the Chinese, but as an alternative to rise would be of the greatest value. Here again the evidence is that the stock normally in the

Colony is sufficient for any emergency. In 1924 the Chamber

of Commerce gave stocks held in godowns for a period of 5

years, showing that these occasionally rose to a million

and a half bags and only once fell below 150,000 bags. In

this case the normal daily consumption (at present about

700 bags a day for Chinese and non-Chinese together) is

of not much value, as what is contemplated is a substitute

of flour for rice in case of real necessity. The Chamber

of Commerce should in our opinion give regular statistics

of flour stocks on the same lines as those indicated in

the case of rice. There need be no anxiety so long as such stocks remain generally at 100,000 bags or over,

especially if the rice figures remain steady. It should

be borne in mind that even a week's prohibition of export before the blockade became so effective as to stop imports

would enormously increase the stocks available.

13.

Rationing of the Chinese population would in our

opinion be quite impossible under any circumstances. If

there is any real shortage of food the Chinese population

will diminish however rigourous the blockade.

14. In considering the distribution of Chinese

foodstuffs it should be remembered that the Chinese are

quite unused to the elaborate system of abbattoirs and

markets