No 41.
C
CO
22697
18 4 PR:9
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 17th. February, 1919.
218
4/3356/8.
My Lord,
With reference to Your Lordship's pre-
-decessor's Despatch No. 89 of 8th. April, 1918, I have the honour to state that the claims of Messrs. Frederick Huth & Company and others against certain branches of Melchers & Company outside the Colony, omnot be met from the liquida- -tion funds of that firm in the Colony. It would be quite impossible to obtain a complete list of such claims, and equally impossible to meet all claims out of the available funds, should such a list be obtainable,
2.
I am, therefore, not prepared to depart from the precedent hitherto adopted in similar cases of refusing such claims, the only exception to which has been the refunding to certain individuals of passage moneys paid elsewhere than in the Colony.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
Caustevem
Officer Administering the Government.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
&c..
VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,
&c..
&C.***