(*5972—150) Wt. 19406-96 5,000 7/40 T.S. 695
C. O.
Mr.Palmer 914
Mr. Monson
Mr.
Sir A. Burns.
Mr. A. J. Dawe.
914
Sir J. Shuckburgh.
Permt. U.S. of S.
Mr. G. L. M. Clauson.
Mr. C. J. Jeffries.
REVISED DRAFT.
W.F.R. HARDIE, ESQ.
Dear Hardie,
Parly. U.S. of S.
Secretary of State.
54058/4/41.
2 $123
Downing Street.
10 April, 1942.
(No. 27)
Copy to Mr Abbott.
COMCENT TO ^?^OUNTS DEMO
FURTHER ACTION.
Copies (with engro.)
to Mr. Abbott, Crown Agents Mr. Palmer A/cs./
Do. My $7.
I enclose a copy of a telegram from the United
Kingdom High Commissioner in Australia regarding recoveries
of amounts disbursed by the Australian authorities on
account of Hong Kong evacuees. We have had some recent
correspondence on this question on which I last wrote to
you on the 21st March, but the High Commissioner's telegram
does suggest that it may be possible on information in
Australia to determine the amounts of the expenditure which
would, under our standing arrangements, be recoverable
from His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
There appear now to be two points with which
we have to deal:-
(1) Payments in respect of July, August and September
<
(i.e. £31,469. 7. 9 vide my letter of 19th February 1942).
These, we suggest, might be paid by the Crown Agents to
the Commonwealth High Commissioner in London; the Crown
Agents could, if authorised, find money from the Joint
Colonial Fund in their hands, to be recovered from Hong Kong
funds as they become available. A contribution could be made
thereto from the Colonial Office vote of credit, on the
basis set out in paragraph 2 of the High Commissioner's
telegram, i.e., £1,300 per month in respect of maintenar.ce
allowances (final adjustment to depend on details to be
received from Maughan), leaving family remittances for
Government officials and non-Government officials (sic) as
8.