SECRET & GUARD.
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In an emergency, with China supplies cut off, it is understood that the Ministry of Food would be prepared to divert up to 2,000 tons of Australian frozen meat to Hong Kong Cold storage facilities have improved considerably over the past year and ample space can be made available to meet an increase in frozen meat supplies.
10.
Poultry and Eggs.
Poultry consumption is estimated at 800 tons a month. Egg consumption is difficult to estimate but is thought to be of the order of 190,000 gross
a month.
Poultry and eggs are important to the local diet but the Colony is almost entirely dependent on China for its supplies. No form of stockpiling is practicable and it is therefore policy not to attempt to replace them in an emergency. This factor was taken into account when determining the soya bean stockpile.
11.
Fish, fresh and salted, cuttlefish, crustacea and molluscs.
Monthly consumption is estimated at 5,000 tons, slightly more than three-fifths of which is brought in by the local fishing fleet. The remainder is imported from China, Macao and Japan.
Fish is an essential item in the local diet and to supple- ment the local catch if China supplies were cut off, Govern- ment aims to maintain a stock of 500 tons of dried salt fish. The present stock, standing at 304 tons, was dried mechanically and production has had to be deferred due to the difficulties experienced in turning over an unfamiliar product.
12.
Edible Oils and Fats. Consumption is estimated at 1,000 tons a month, approximately 80% of which is in the form of peanut oil. Principal sources of supply are China, South Africa and Indonesia.
Local production from imported groundnuts meets about 50% of the Colony's requirements, and stocks held by local producers, including quantities for export, are normally suffic- ient for 3 4 weeks consumption.
Peanut oil is important in the local diet but no form of stockpiling is practicable. Arrangements have been made with the Singapore Government to a ssist with the supply of coconut oil in an emergency, as a last resort.
13. Tea. Consumption is estimated at 150 tons a month. Commercial stocks are always sufficient for 6 weeks con-
China, Formosa and Ceylon are the main sources
sumption.
of supply.
14. Fruit. Monthly consumption of fresh, canned and preserved fruits is estimated at 5,000 tons.
The Colony
is almost entirely dependent on China for its supplies and no form of stockpiling is practicable. The large quantities of canned and preserved fruits held by the local industry (mainly for export) would be of considerable use in an emer- gency if carefully rationed.
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