CO129-527-17 Export of lard and ham from Hong Kong and China 10-9-1930 - 27-4-1931 — Page 14

his conversation with myself: he added that he had

often wished to inspect the slaughter-houses in

Chinese territory but that he could not very well

ask for permission to do so officially and that if

he went privately he would in all probability be

refused admission, which might result in trouble

arising.

As a result of enquiries which I made at the

American Consulate-General I ascertained that the

Health Department of the United States of America

had definitely refused to accept the Bureau's certi-

ficates for food-stuffs, but that the Philippine

Government accept Dr. Evangelista's certificates

although the American Consulate here had warned the

Government that in their opinion Dr. Evangelista

was not to be relied on.

The opinion of merchants with whom I have dis-

cussed the matter is that the Bureau is merely a

pretext for collecting fees and exporters of casings,

for instance, inform me that no proper examination

is made and that a certificate is readily granted

on payment of a fee.

From my personal contact with Mr. Tsou and the

other heads of Departments I have gained the impres-

sion that they themselves are capable and earnestly

endeavouring to improve the standard of native

products and that they are therefore entitled to

sympathetic consideration.

But it is obviously

impossible

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