17.
-
120
the appointment of agents in the main market towns for the sale of Government rice at controlled prices. These facilities have to some extent been abused and it may be necessary to consider means whereby Government rice will be sold from Government shops which are limited to this commodity only.
106.
Distribution of free rice to the needy through- out the market towns and the outlying villages was und er- taken by the Tung Wah Hospital through locally appointed agents.
107.
Japanese military yen has virtually disappeared and Hong Kong currency is now re-established, with Chinese national currency in diminishing demand along the border.
108.
A Relief Fund has been inaugurated for the employment of the poorest inhabitants of the New Territories on light work in connection with the clearing of the streets and public places of market town and the removal of various obstructions along the main traffic roads.
109.
All the vegetable seed available locally has been distributed in the Territories for immediate planting.
110.
"
Such lorries as remained more or less serviceable after the Japanese occupation were licensed at an early date to bring foodstuffs into the Colony and to carry a certain number of passengers. These facilities have now been supplemented by the railway which runs two trains in each direction daily. Certain of the ferry services affecting the New Territories have already been resumed.
111.
Woodcutting is continuing on a large scale owing to the serious shortage of this form of fuel.
112.
The next few weeks will see the re-opening of Government dispensaries with doctors in attendance and lying-in facilities; the re-appearance of Government scavengers in markets; a serious effort to arrest the rapid deterioration of the roads caused by increasingly heavy traffic; improvement in the ferry services; the start of a plan for the diversion of urban nightsoil to the New Territories, and the re-opening of Government schools.
112.
The construction of the new aerodrome at Ping Shan will necessitate at least eight villages containing about 700 houses and a population of about 1,300 being moved elsewhere. It is possible that more villages will be affected if the revised plans receive approval. These resumptions have produced the expected complaints and objections which will be met by the building of new houses. and the preparation of agricultural land in areas to be selected by the dispossessed farmers. Every possible consideration is being given to them in other respects. It is believed that the protests generally have been stimulated some extent by propaganda from outside the colony, although the upheaval is obviously not acceptable to the whole population involved. Various forms of counter-propaganda have been devised and facilities given for the presentation and redress of all complaints.
POST OFFICE.
113.
Local mails are now in normal operation and surface mails are despatched to all parts as opportunity offers. A registered letter service for all destinations. commenced on October 14th. Parcel service was resumed on
Page 80Page 81
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.