ALL COMMUNICATIONS
TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE
CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES.
THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE AND THE
· DATE OF THIS LETTER BEING QUOTED.
EC/254/25.
́INLAND: "CROWN SOWEST LONDON.”
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CROWN
AGENTE
LONIES
THE
Confidential.
4, MILLBANK,
33
54
LONDON, S.W.I.
22nd December, 1951.
Dear Hall,
I am writing with reference to your correspondence No. 54403/15 and your letters of the 14th November and 14th December about Night Soil cum Town Refuse composting at Hong Kong.
Both Foxlee and I have given consideration to this matter, which is perhaps not quite so straightforward as may appear. We have been in communication with the London County Council, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and with Messrs. Mitchell, and we have had discussions with officials from the Ministry and with Messrs. Mitchell.
As regards the Mitchell Engineering Group, our information is that this is primarily a Sales Organization handling the affairs of a number of subsidiaries. Of these subsidiaries Mitchell Engineering Limited would, as we understand the position, be the constituents of the Group which would be principally concerned with a Scheme such as that now proposed. They are in essence plant manufacturers on a large scale, but there is also, it appears, the Mitchell Construction Limited which deals with engineering construction.
Our enquiries lead us to the opinion that the Group is a substantial Organization.
As regards their connection with composting, we were informed by the Representative of Mitchell Engineering Limited that they had been interested in this subject for some 15 years. They have built two plants in the United Kingdom, but these are comparatively small affairs each dealing with some 50 tons per week. They are, we were informed, at present also interested in several possible future installations, the largest of which was said to be in Bombay, the suggestion being that it should be capable of dealing with up to some 400 tons per day.
The firm have not built plants for dealing with crude night soil as a composting factor, which material introduces different conditions to those prevailing in the United Kingdom where sludge from Sewerage Purification Works is generally used.
The impression gained from the interview with Mitchell Engineering Limited was that the Mitchell Group can be considered as a suitable Organization for collaboration in the manufacture of the actual plant required.
H. P. Hall, Esq.,
Hong Kong & Pacific Department,
Colonial Office,
Church House,
Great Smith Street,
LONDON, S.W.1.
SG/DC.
/The
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