Sessional_Paper_1938 — Page 144

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VIII. Finance.

83. All expenditure connected with the reception, housing, maintenance and repatriation of the Shanghai refugees has, in the first instance, been borne by the Hong Kong Government and has been debited to an Advance Account. On four occasions an advance of $50,000 has been placed at my disposal under Advance Warrant.

84. As the organization of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, was employed in the preparation of the Jockey Club Stand at Happy Valley all accounts were met by the Company and were submitted after they had been passed by the Company's auditors. This arrangement was continued after the re- moval to Lai Chi Kok; these accounts being under the charge of Mr. F. C. Barry throughout. At the beginning it was imperative that work should be done and stores supplied at once. Much hard work was put in by Mr. C. J. Triggs, Engineer of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, in the preparation of Happy Valley and later of Lai Chi Kok and by Miss R. C. P. Xavier of the Purchasing Department of the Hotel Company who supervised the supply of linen and stores.

85. At the Central British School the initial equipment was kindly lent by the Military Authorities supplemented by the purchase of sheets, pillows, etc. Mr. D. M. Richards, Headmaster of the School, assisted by his wife, supervised all purchases for that Centre.

86. The catering at Happy Valley was placed in the hands of Messrs. Lane, Crawford, Ltd. (Café Wiseman) who originally agreed to supply three full meals a day at $1.00 each. As mentioned earlier this charge was later reduced to 75 cents a meal. Meal tickets were used at Happy Valley and payment was made only on the number of tickets presented, so that the actual cost per head per day was some- what less than $1.82.

87. Catering at new Central British School and later at the old School was in the hands of Messrs. Kay Lee, who agreed to supply three meals a day for the sum of $1.35 for adults and 65 cents for children under 15. This, however, did not include any supply of milk for the children and "Klim" was purchased separately. Gas was used as the heating agent at both new and old Central British School and the caterer paid one-third of the amount consumed.

88. At Sham Shui Po, during the short time it was occupied, Messrs. Kay Lee also supplied meals at the rate of $1.35 per day.

89. Prices rose in Hong Kong somewhat sharply at the end of August, due undoubtedly to the considerable increase in the population, both British and Chinese. In arranging for the catering at Lai Chi Kok I considered it essential that fresh milk should be supplied for the children and while agreeing to continue at the rate of $1.35 per days for adults Messrs. Kay Lee submitted that the same rate should apply also to children under 15. Tables and chairs were hired for the dining room from the same contractor and as the price of coal was rising very rapidly, it was agreed that $12 a day should be paid to cover both items.

90. At Lai Chi Kok a few orthodox Jews (men) were allowed to have their own mess and were granted a subsistence allowance of $1.00 a head per day.

The Staff Quarters at Lai Chi Kok were also granted a subsistence allowance to run their own catering in lieu of joining in with the general messing arrangements.

91. The following is a classification of the accounts, but it must be noted that in many respects this classification is fallacious-for example equipment bought while the Happy Valley Centre was open was later transferred to Lai Chi Kok and used there. It is impossible therefore to show the exact cost of each Centre.