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

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AN EXAMINATION OF THE PRESENT

CONSUMPTION, STOCKS AND SOURCES OF FOOD IN

HONG KONG.

2/2/1

Introduction

1.

Although the Chinese can work on a very simple diet of rice with a limited supplement of meat and vegetables, they will improve their diet as soon as they can afford to do so. The standard of feeding in Hong Kong has risen rapidly in the past ten years. The estimated year to year average increase since 1959 in the per capita expenditure on food is 3.9%. As food prices have, until recently, tended to decline since 1959 the real improvement in level of food consumption is probably higher. Any sudden and sustained decline in the quantities, price and standards of food available will have an immediate and dramatic effect on civilian morale.

2.

There has been no department of Government responsible for an overall control of food supplies. Three departments have direct responsibilities in regard to food:-

(a)

(b)

(c)

The Commerce and Industry Department has had a responsibility for controlling the import and export of rice (see paras, 5-10 below).

The Agriculture and Fisheries Department has had responsi- bilities in respect of local agricultural production, the local fishing industry, and wholesale markets for both vegetables and fish.

The Urban Services Department has responsibilities in respect of abattoir and some wholesale and all retail markets.

In order to attempt a comprehensive survey it has, therefore, been necessary to form a special committee to look into the overall problem of food supplies and alternative sources and to consider the distribution of food under emergency conditions. At present, with the exception of rice, all food which is imported is stocked and retailed entirely on commercial principles.

3.

The following paragraphs examine the more important foodstuffs in greater detail and draw tentative conclusions. This examination makes no attempt to make special allowance for either the European or the Indian communities (whose diet generally differs from that of the bulk of the population) because their numbers are insignificant in terms of the overall population. To assist in this examination, two tables have been compiled:-

Table A.

Table B.

(a) a list of the more important foodstuffs imported during 1966

showing the quantities retained and coming from China together with a note of alternative resources. Hong Kong Trade Statistics, December 1966).

(Source:

(b) a record of the commercial stocks of a number of important

commodities held in ten of the most important godown com- plexes in Hong Kong. This is compiled from monthly returns rendered voluntarily by the companies and shows the stock position at the end of each month.

Rice.

4.

stock

The present consumption of rice is 30, 000 tons a month. The at 4th July, 1967 was 83, 800 tons, which, at the normal rate of

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/consumption.....