No.
CONFIDENT IAL
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
22nd April, 1941.
p the
My dear Gent,
I have now been back here for nearly
six weeks and you may be glad to have some of my
impressions.
First, as regards defence matters.
Food and Food Control.
(1)
General Norton did splendid work in getting
the food control business on to a sounder
basis. I had left it in the hands of a very
capable business man, viz. Mr. J. H. Taggart,
0.B. E., but unfortunately he went sick and
had to leave the Colony. It was then put in
the hands of the unfortunate Kennedy-Skipton,
who, of course, has had no business training
and was in any case a bad choice.
choice That was
א
done before, or just after, General Norton's
arrival. Some months later it was discovered
that the stocks were far below what was
required and for the most part were in a bad
condition. The result is enquiry by a
Committee. We now have enough rice in reserve
for over five months supply, and although what
is known as 'rice supplement', that is to say
vegetables, fish, meat, soya bean, etc. for
the Chinese, are not yet sufficiently stocked
the position is being steadily improved.
G.E.J. Gent, Esq., C.M.G., O.B. E., D.S.O., M.C.,
Colonial Office,
LONDON.
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