the rice shortage which has forced the mass of the population to eat a more mixed diet, but the great increase in wages among the lower wage groups as compared wtih 1941 is probably in part responsible.
Food
There was a small improvement in rice supplies during the year, which made it possible to increase the ration in August from 7ozs. per day (the level which it reached in August 1947) to 9 ozs. Rations were issued to only 63% of the population (largely those with pre-war residential qualifications), the remainder subsisting on local rice, of which supplies were rather better than in 1946 and 1947, and substitute foods. The increase in the rice ration made it possible to de-ration flour from September, but the sugar ration (2 lbs. per month) and butter ration (1 lb. per month to non-rice ration card holders) were continued. Local sup- plies of fish and vegetables improved, and, while supplies of local meat were rather irregular, it was possible to make up temporary shortages from stocks of imported Australian meat.
The increase in rice supplies was again associated with a con- tinued rise in export prices in the producing territories, and it was necessary to raise the retail price, which had risen from 25 cents per catty (2.8d. per lb.) in 1946 to 48 cents (5.4d. per lb.) in October 1947, to 54 cents per catty (6.1d. per lb.) in April 1948. Free market prices continued about 10% above the rationed price.
Water.
The water supply gave some cause for anxiety towards the end of the dry season, and the hours of supply were restricted to 10 hours per day from the middle of March until the end of the May. The Water Authority succeeded in delivering water of an excellent chemical and biological purity, although during the year difficulty was caused by a shortage of Chlorine Gas and resort was made to the use of Chloride of Lime. Heavy falls of rain in the summer relieved the Water Authority of the necessity of applying water restrictions during the autumn, and a full supply continued until the end of November.
Sewage.
Most of the human wastes in Hong Kong and Kowloon are still dealt with by a pan-conservancy system, whereby the pan con- tents are deposited in sewage barges along the bunds. Although a proportion of this is taken by barge to the New Territories, ren- dered relatively innocuous in maturing tanks before being
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