•G/594.
COPY
57/China/943 (M. G. 0.1)
18th August, 1938. Recd. 19th August, 1938.
Sir,
21
I am directed to refer to your letter No. C. R. C. C.
1637 (C. S.) of 3rd June, 1937, requesting authority to
demand from home, in advance of requisition from the Colonial
Government, the anticipated amount of ammunition required
for annual practice by the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps.
In reply I am to inform you that the departure which you
propose from paragraph 504, Regulations for Army Ordnance
Services (Part 1) 1937, cannot be approved.
Save in the
exceptional cases described in the Regulation referred to,
practice ammunition should be obtained by Colonial Governments
by requisition through the Crown Agents for the Colonies.
As a general rule, practice ammunition must be
specially manufactured or filled and cannot be supplied in
less than twelve months from the date of receipt of a
requisition. Even if, in exceptional cases, practice
ammunition is available in stock at home for issue to
Colonial Governments, supply in the case of Hong Kong would
take several months owing to the length of time required to
secure suitable shipping accommodation and for the voyage.
In these circumstances it appears that the Government
of Hong Kong might consider purchasing a year in advance,
the practice ammunition required annually for the Hong Kong
Volunteer Defence Corps. The Colony's financial year
commences on 1st January.
A requesition placed as soon as
the estimates of the Colonial Government for e.g. 1939 are
The General Officer Commanding,
The British Troops in China.
Copy to:-
The Crown Agents,
/approved
4, Millbank, S. W. 1.