1
I
A CONFIDENTIAL.
43492
RES
FL!! SEP 20
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 8th July, 1920.
402
My Lord,
I have the honour to forward for Your Lordship's consideration the enclosed copies of an indent for Rifles, Lewis Guns, &c. which it is desired should be pro- cured for the new Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps.
27(19
I have forwarded this indent to Your Lordship
in the first instance as I venture to submit that it would be a suitable recognition of the value of the services rendered by the Hongkong Volunteer Corps and the Hongkong Defence Corps during the war if the Army Council would supply this Government with part used rifles and Lewis Guns either free of cost or at a reduced price. I should be glad, therefore, if Your Lordship could see your way to make such application to them on behalf of this Government.
I would refer Your Lordship also to my confidential despatch of the 28th November, 1919, in respect of the seven machine guns and 200,000 rounds of ammunition which were lent for use in South Africa at the beginning of the war, and to request that, in lieu of the guns and ammuni- tion asked for in that despatch, the value of the guns, &c. lent may be set off against the stores now ordered.
In the event, however, of these proposals
proving impracticable I should be glad if the indent may be
RIGHT HONOURABLE
VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B..
&c..
$0.
&c.