No. 338.
SEEN BY DEPT 27/5 2/6
Sir,
26 MAY 1939
62621/39
4
34
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
15th May, 1939.
(2)
Aword. 9-
I have the honour to refer to my despatch No.294
of 20th April, 1939, on the subject of the writing off of
certain fees in connection with the issue of passports and
visas which have not been brought to account, the failure
to do so being attributed to irregularities committed by
Mr. R. G. Witchell, formerly of the Senior Clerical and
Accounting Staff. I have now to seek your approval for the
writing off of certain more extensive deficiencies which,
although they had been reported upon by the Auditor, had not
been brought to my notice at the time my despatch under
reference was written. I would express my apologies for
this oversight, which has made it necessary to trouble you
with a further despatch on the subject.
2. I enclose a copy of a full report on the matter
by the Assistant Auditor, which shows the following results:-
(a) 118 application forms were filed but were found
not to have been accounted for, representing
revenue amounting to $1,155.78. (Enclosure III
to report).
(b) 117 application forms representing an unknown sum
were missing from the files. On the average of
other collections the amount involved could
probably be assessed as being not less than $1,100. (Enclosure V to report).
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
HALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,
&c., &c., &c.