Owing to the length of the reports, M. d'Hooghe said it would be impossible to even give a general survey of their contents, but he pointed out there was a variance of opinion on some subjects which would have.o be sifted by the committee after the closing of the enquiry.
It would be impossible to give a forecast of the decisions of the committee at its plenary session, M. d'Hooghe pointed out, and went on to explain that recommendations of the enquiry body, if approved by the French consul, could be enforced in the French Concession by a French consular ordinance. This would have the same effect as the Municipal bye-laws of the International Settlement and would apply to all residents of the French Concession irrespective of nationality.
M. d'Hooghe reiterated the determination of his committee to curb rent profiteering and the present system of paying "key money" and inordinate prices for furniture and fixtures to tenants to effect the trans-for of premises. He expressed the hope of the committee to be able to put an end to this exploitation of residents, He added that the committee also hope to be in a position to control letting to such an extent that it would be impossible for profiteers to make unduly high profits from the sub-letting of houses, flats and rooms.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.