Gov.58859 Hongkong.
448
PRESSING.
Downing Street,
December, 1924.
qto. for S. of S'e sig.
DRAFT.
The Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill,
C.H. M. P. etc., etc..
The Rt. Hon. Sir L. Worthington
Evans, Bart. G. B.3., M.P. etc. etc., etc..
MINUTE.
Mr. H.B. 17
Mr.
Mr.
Sir. J. Shuckburgh.
Sir G. Davis.
Sir G. Grindle. 17
Sir J-Mmoteriam Smith,
H. Lambert.
bord Prebid.
Mekomme.
XMr. Amery. S.98. has
2 dfts.
Zeen rapproved Luca 18/12.
Fr.Gov.Tel.16th Dec.
(Recd.1.30 p.m.) Recd.1.40 Pil.
do.
Mythen Wurster, Muysken working
I enclose copies of two
telegrams from the Gove mor of Hongkong
offering a contribution of £250,000
towards the cost of enlargement of the
Singapore base. As regards the second
telegram I may explan that as a result
of the policy of Shipping Control which
was forced on Hongkong during the war
considerable profits were realised which
have been held in a suspense account,
until it could be decided what to do wit
them.
If they were formally credited
to revenue, military contribution could
be levied on them, It would clearly
be absurd to expect Hongkong to pay for
the privilege of handing over this sum
to His Majesty's Government, and I pro-
pose in conveying to the Governor the
cordial