- 2
11
the Admiralty suggested that the Crown Agents should
hand over the contribution in instalments as required.
Sir R. E. Stubbs, by telegram dated 14th March replied:-
"I should prefer to hand over the
"whole amount at once in order to
"get rid of cross entry in Balance
"Sheet. Suggest the Crown Agents
"should transfer Investments to His
"Majesty's Goverment so that nothing
11
passes through our Revenue and
Expenditure Accounts."
In Colonial Office Despatch No.104 of 23rd March, 1925to
the Governor of Hong Kong (with enclosure C. 0. Letter
No.11945/24 of 19th March, 1925, to the Crown Agents)
it will be observed that apparently to meet the wishes
of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, arrangements
were made whereby Hong Kong's Contribution should be
vested by the Crown Agents in a Special Fund, from which,
from time to time, advances by way of instalments on
account could be made, and according to Crown Agents'
Letter A/862 of the 1st April, 1925, the necessary action
was taken for the transfer of £250,000 from the Hong
Kong Account to the "Special Fund"
It will be further observed from the
Colonial Treasurer's minute of the 2nd July, 1925, in
C.S.0.2921/25 (3), "The money is out of our hands, and
off our books".
3.
un reviewing the correspondence referred
to, I am led to believe that it was the definite
intention of this Government to donate the gift as a
whole sum. The subsequent arrangements whereby the
gift was placed to a Special Fund was, in my humble
opinion,