TNAG-0050-FCO40-86-Disturbances-essential-food-supplies-1968 — Page 10

0003230 G.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

AN EXAMINATION OF THE CONSUMPTION, STOCKS AND SOURCES OF FOOD IN HONG KONG--

24/2/1

Enclosure to Saving Despatch No.756 of

22nd May, 1968 (Rev. 1)

Introduction

GENERAL

Although most Chinese can work on a simple diet of rice with a limited supplement of meat and vegetables, the average family will improve its diet as soon as it can afford to do so. The standard of feeding in Hong Kong has risen rapidly in the last ten years. The estimated average increase year to year since 1959 in tho per capita expenditure on food is just under 4% As the prices of the basic foodstuffs eaten by Hong Kong's population have declined slightly between 1959 and 1966 the real improvement in the level of food consumption is probably nearer 5% a year.

2.

By weight about 50% of the food consumed in Hong Kong during 1966 came from China. Of the remainder about 37% came from overseas countries and about 13% was produced locally. By value the imports from China represented about 57% of Hong Kong's food imports.

3.

Despite the disruption caused by the Cultural Revolution in China, the flow of hor food imports into Hong Kong tended to increase during the first four months of 1967. There was some sign of reductions in certain commodities in May but it was not till June that it became clear :-

4.

5.

a)

that the Chinese supply system was disturbed;

b)

and

that local communists were prepared to use the supply of food as a political weapon although they were not able to use it effectively or without opposition from other Chinese authorities.

This report attempts :-

a) to analyse the general situation in regard

to food supplies in the light of the experience of the seven months of 1967: and

b) to draw some conclusions on which future plans

to protect essential food supplics can be based.

In this report little consideration is given to food supplies for the European and Indian communities. The size of the former is small and it is generally able to buy the food it requires with loss regard to cost. In any emergency circumstances the Indian community would be quite capable of utilising most foodstuffs used by the Chinese population.

Government Organisation

6.

There is no department of the Hong Kong Government responsible for the overall control of food supplies. Three heads of departments have certain direct responsibilities in regard to food :-

CONFIDENTIAL

/a).