By Express Airmail
布政司署 香港下亞厘畢道
**** Our Ref : PEN/CV/1
來函檔號 YOUR REF:
Dear Patrial,
23
HKK 430
32
GOVE
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
7th September 1979
No
RJMR
.18/9
Please refer to your letter of 30th July 1979
to Henry Ching about the case of Mrs. Penhearow, widow of the late Mr. C.V. Penhearow formerly of the Public Works Department, I apologise for the slight delay in giving you a reply which is due mainly to the fact that we have to consult departments concerned to ascertain the facts.
Mr. Penhearow, born on 20th October 1914, first joined the service of the Hong Kong Government as a Building Services Engineer on 6th May 1971 on gratuity- bearing agreement terms. On 6th January 1979 he passed away at the age of 64.
Following her husband's death, every possible assistance was given to Mrs. Penhearow by all concerned to complete the formalities relating to her husband's estate. Priority was given by the Office of the Registrar, Supreme Court to the applications for Letters of Administration which were granted and collected by John Chambers on 19th February 1979. Thereafter and following the confirmation by the departments concerned of the correct amounts of payment due to and from the Estate of Mr. Penhearow, the Crown Agents were authorised on 12th April 1979 by telex to pay the sum of $28,322.93 ($27,837.75 in ex-gratia payment for 78 days untaken vacation leave and $485.18 in arrears of salary) to Mrs. Penhearow's bank account in the United Kingdom. You will appreciate that these matters take time and in this case there has been no undue delay.
As regards the over-assessment of tax due on payments to the Estate, this has taken a little time to correct. The Commissioner of Inland Revenue has informed me in this connection that there has been some, but not in his opinion inordinate, delay in his department; and
Mr. P.J. Williamson, J.P.,
Hong Kong and General Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London SW1,
ENGLAND.
/ that
see