CO129-527-17 Export of lard and ham from Hong Kong and China 10-9-1930 - 27-4-1931 — Page 24

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order to prevent them from becoming a menace to

health in the family of nations and from shattering the confidence usually placed in Chinese merchandise, these meat products, once found a little faulty or unsound, are never allowed to go abroad. According to reports lately received from the dealers concerned, however, certain persons have been collecting in the Shanghai market ham that has been pronounced unsalable and unfit for consumption purposes and have been smuggling it to Hong Kong and Amoy for transshipment to Manila, P.I. and vicinity. It is further stated that the matter has come to the knowledge of the Customs authorities there who have opened the packages and found their contents productive of germs. Endeavoring to advance personal interest regardless of public welfare, these unscrupulous merchants are

In addition extremely wicked and detestable, indeed.

to order certain detectives to discover the fraud and bringing the matter to the attention of the Customs authorities so that no shipment may be passed unless duly certificated, we have to request that you address a letter to the American Consul-General at Shanghai in order that the appropriate officials in Manila may be advised that, in future, any shipment of Chinese ham that may arrive at that port must be found, prior to landing, to have been exported from Shanghai and duly certificated by the Chinese inspector, Kuan Chun- yun, and the American inspector, Mr. Evangelista, otherwise steps may be taken to compel its return or to confiscate and destroy the stock on our behalf. Shanghai is not the only ham producing center in China but it is the only place which provides such

a complete system for inspection of meat as is required

by