FO371-23515 — Page 146

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HONG KONG.

WEEKLY AIR MAIL REPORT ON LOCAL SITUATION (SECRETARY OF STATE'S TELEGRAM No. 233 OF 20TH NOVEMBER, 1938).

1.

Cost of Living and Supplies.

Report for the week ending Friday, 14. 7. 39.

Fresh Vegetables: Supplies about 70% of normal and prices up about 20%. Freshwater Fish: Supplies have practically ceased.

Saltwater Fish: Supplies

normal but prices up about 20% on account of shortage of freshwater fish.

Poultry) Supplies and prices approximately

Keat

) normal.

It is only during the last three days that there has been a shortage of Fresh Vegetables and Freshwater Fish, on

account of hostilities in

Chung Shan District from which these commodities

come via Shekki and Macao.

Firewood

2.

Population and Refugees.

No. of persons of all kinds entering Colony during

week ended

11. 7. 39. 13.7.39

By

steamer.

26080

By

railway.

By other

(if known

routes

No.

of

refugees

in Kam Tin Camp on ..13...7...39..

camps on 13.7.39

No. of refugees in border and other

Trend of

Net rise (+) or fall (−) for week ended

population.

∙11.7.

39.

Mil

Nil

4086

2670

1939

3.

Remarks on State of Industrial and Shipping Activity.

See report appended.

4.

Remarks on Revenue Position and Prospects.

Week ended 15. 7.39.

Approximate revenue for the four weeks ended 15th July was $3,621,000, equal to 115% of average of corresponding periods of three previous quarters. Approximate revenue for the first 28 weeks of 1939 was $21,748,000, equal to 108% of revenue for the first 28 weeks of 1938.

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Average number of

catties per dollar

Pine (chopped)

61

Pine (unchopped)

68

Singapore (chopped)

Singapore (unchopped) 77

Sandakan (chopped)

Sandakan (unchopped) 77

Misc. (unchopped)

JONEZER

71

71

73

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