340
FOOD
The supply and cost of food in Hongkong is a subject which has more than once been given serious attention by the Government. In view of Hongkong's isolated position, the greatest care has to be taken to ensure that in times of stress, a constant supply of good food will be available from some nearby source. It is also necessary that the cost of the food shall not be exorbitant.
Bearing these things in mind, the Hongkong Government on May 19, 1900 appointed a Food Supply Commission comprising Mr. J. J. Francis (chairman), Messrs. Edward Osborne, A. M. Marshall, F. Maitland, Fung Wa Chun and William Hartigan.
This Commission brought in its report on April 15, 1901. The report was not signed by the Chairman, and in explanation of this, the Commission enclosed in its report a letter addressed to Mr. Francis from the other members of the Committee. The letter stated that as Mr. Francis would not be able to compile the report for some time, other members felt they could no longer be a party to the delay, and considered the Commission at an end.
Mr. Francis immediately wrote to the Colonial Secretary denying that there had been any delay in the prosecution of the inquiry. He enclosed all papers connected with the hearing.
The Colonial Secretary replied, asking for a verbatim record of question and answer given in evidence, but was informed by Mr. Francis that, no special instructions having been given, the evidence was recorded in the usual fashion in which it is taken by all Judges and Magistrates in legal proceedings.
The report signed by Messrs. Osborne, Marshall, Maitland, Fung Wa-chun and Hartigan stated that a number of witnesses had been examined and a mass of information obtained from Steamship lines, hotels, the Gaol, the Government Civil Hospital, military authorities and other sources.
It was shown that a substantial rise in the wholesale and retail prices of eleven leading commodities had occurred. The commission attributed this rise to five main causes: Depreciation of silver, increased cost of rice, West River Piracy, increased rents and enforcement of the sanitary laws.
The Committee suspected that a combine existed for keeping up the price of meat. The two men who controlled the supply of meat admitted that they were backed by a syndicate. Each swore that he had been losing money for three consecutive years, but said the report during the whole course of their examination, they were manifestly prevaricating and concealing the truth, making all evidence on this point most unreliable.
The following recommendations were embodied in the Committee's report:
(a) that increased market accommodation be provided and meanwhile, in order to relieve existing pressure on the Markets, that fruit and vegetables be sold outside in licensed shops.
(b) That markets be used for the sale of perishable foods only. Biscuits, hams, tinned meat, jams and such like stores should not be sold in markets as the letting of stalls for such purposes tends to crowd out the legitimate vendors of fresh produce.
340
FOOD
The supply and cost of food in Hongkong is a subject which has more than once been given serious attention by the Govern- ment. In view of Hongkong's isolated position, the greatest care has to be taken to ensure that in times of stress, a cons- tant supply of good food will be available from some nearby source. It is also necessary that the cost of the food shall not be exhorbitant.
Bearing these things in minds, the Hongkong Government on May 19, 1900 appointed a Food Supply Commission comprising Mr. J. J. Francis chairman) Messrs. Edward Osborne A, M. Marshall, F. Maitland, Fung Wa Chun and William Hartigan.
་
This
This Commission brought in its report in April 15, 1901, The report was not signed by the Chairman, and in explanation of this, the Commission enclosed in its report a letter addres- sed to Mr. Francis from the other members of theCommittee. letter stated that as Mr. Francis would bot be able to compile the report for some time, other members felt they could no longer be a party to the dalay, and considered the Commission at an and.
Mr. Francis immediately wrote to theColonial Secretary deny- ing that there had been any dealy in the prosecution of the inquiry. He enclosed all papers connected with the hearing.
The Colonial Secretary replied, asking for a verbatim re- cord of question and answer given in evidence, but was informed by Mr. Francis that, no special instructions having been given the evidence was recorded in the usual fashion in which it is taken by all Judges and Magistrates in legal proceedings.
The report signed by Messrs. Osborne, Marshall, Maitland, Fung Wa-chun and Hartigan stated that a number of witnesses had been examined and a mass of information obtained from Steamship lines, hotels, the Gaol, the Government Civil Hos- pital military authorities and other sources.
It was shwon that a substantial rise in the wholesale and retail prices of eleven leading commodities had occurred. The commission attributed this rise to five main cause8 Depré- ciation of silver, increased cost of rice, West River Piracy, increased rents and enforcemtn of the sanitary laws.
The Committee suspected that a combine existed for keeping up the price of meat. The two men who controlled the supply of meat admitted that they were backed by a syndicate. Each swore that he had been losing money for three consecutive years, but said the report # during the whole course of their examina tion, they were manisfestly prevaricating and concealing the
ruth making all evidence on this point most unreligble.
The following xxx recommendations were embodied in the Committee's report:
(a) that increased market accommodation be provided and meanwhile in order to relieve existing pressure on the Markets, that fruit and vegetables be sold outside in licensed shops.
(b) That markets be used for the sale of perishable foods only. Biscuits hams, tinned meat, jams and such like stores. should not be sold in markets aw the letting of stalls for such purposes tends to crowd out the legitimate vendors of fresh produce.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.