0003160 G.F. 316
1
SECRET
E
5
Vegetables.
20.
The average consumption of fresh vegetables is over 29,000 tons à month. Over a 12-month period some 60% of this supply comes from China and the remainder from local sources. Local production drops
significantly during the hot summer months and during the period from July to November available supplies from China can rise to almost 70% of total consumption. Local production comes from very slightly less than half the available crop acreage and it is, therefore, feasible to increase local participation in this market, given a suitable time lapse of 6-8 weeks. An immediate alternative source for vegetable supply would probably be Formosa. Other alternative suppliers from the region would be the Philippines and Thailand both of which would have limitations regarding the range of vegetables available and prices would probably be high. Japan is a further source particularly for more temperate vegetables but, again, prices would be very high due to shipping costs.
Edible Oils.
21.
The most common cooking oil obtainable in the retail market is the so-called groundnut oil which is generally a mixture of rapeseed oil, genuine groundnut oil and soya bean oil. In 1966, retained imports of these oils amounted to some 1, 760 tons of rapeseed oil, 800 tons of groundnut oil and 120 tons of soya bean oil per month.
22.
Rapeseed oil is much cheaper than groundnut oil and is imported as a substitute for the latter. China supplies over 80% of our total imports with Japan supplying the rest. Commercial sources are of the view that adequate quantities can be obtained from Japan at prices higher than the Chinese product. The main sources of supply of groundnut oil are South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia and China, In addition some groundnut oil is being produced locally from imported groundnuts. Soya bean oil is mainly imported from Japan and Formosa.
23.
Local requirements for edible oils are only marginal to world supplies and it should not be difficult to arrange for supplies from alternative sources such as Japan, America and South Africa. However these supplies would take time to arrange and ship to Hong Kong and would undoubtedly be more expensive.
24,
Commercial stocks of edible oils as recorded in Table B appear remarkably low in comparison with demand. This oddity is being investigated but at present it must be assumed that a shortage in this item could occur very quickly.
Eggs.
25.
About 93% of the 433,500 gross of fresh eggs consumed each month comes from China, Local production is about 15,000 gross per month on average, of which roughly half is higher grade table eggs. Egg production is however seasonal and tends to be highest in early summer.
Local pro- duction could certainly be increased but only slowly and not if there was any chance of Chinese supplies being resumed unless there was an incentive factor. Alternative sources of supply in the region could be Formosa, Japan, Thailand and perhaps Malaysia,
SECRET
/Poultry.
Page 90Page 91
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.