CO129-626-9 Wholesale vegetable marketing scheme 1-2-1951 - 30-11-1951 — Page 46

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It would appear to us from the fact that in-

structions are issued by the Colonial Office in London

and by the Hong Kong Government, that this Organisation should be regarded as a Government Department, especially since part of the cost of administration is charged to

the Colony's Budget. If this assumption is correct, and

in view of a directive from London that the funds of this

Organisation were not to be diverted to the General Re-

venue of the Colony, the question arises, why has the

Organisation been required to pay Petrol Tax to the Hong

Kong Government for the year under review and to make

provision in respect of similar retrospective charges

which, at the date of this report, remain unpaid. If

this Organisation is a Government Department it would

appear that the Department is exempt from payment of

Rates under Ordinance No. 6 of 1901 Section 39(2) F.

The most important aspect of these unanswered

questions is that the General Revenues of the Colony, as

shown in the Budget Statements presented to Legislative

Council, may have been inflated with Government's own

money without any qualifying note to this effect.

V

In conclusion, we have to report that, subject

to the contingencies enumerated in Paragraph IV and else–

where in this report, the attached Balance Sheet of the

Government Wholesale Vegetable Market is properly drawn

up so as to exhibit a true and correct view of the state

of the Market's affairs as at 31st March, 1950, according

to the best of our information and the explanations given

to us and as shown by the books submitted to us.

SBM:AB

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servants,

lowe Ringhandy ath I. Anghaudathas

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