C.O.
REGISTERED No.
DRAFT AND RECORD COPY
LETTER
SENT
131
DATE
Colonial office,
Downing Street, S.. 1) February, 19420
DRAF' 158/4/41.
MR. Monson 17.2.42. Dear Hardie,
Palmer, 19/
MR...
ENCLOSURES
If...
FURTHER ACTION
Reci Im
To
22.
I enclose a copy of a letter sent to the Crown Agents by the official secretary in the office of the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia regarding recoveries of amounts disbursed by the Commonwealth Government on account of Hong Kong evacuees.
The procedure up to the outbreak of hostilities was for the Commonwealth Government to send a claim to the Crown Agents through Australia House, and to forward at the same time a copy and supporting vouchers to the Hong Kong Government. The Crown Agents were then authorised to pay by the Government of Hong Kong, which indicated what proportion of the amount was recoverable from H.M.G. in the U.K. The balance which fell on Hong Kong funās represented presumably remittances or other amounts recovered from husbands in Hong Kong. The Crown Agents have received the claims for July, August and September, which together amount to £31,469. 7. 9d. but have had no instructions from Họng Kong about them, and, as the High Commissioner's letter shows, the September vouchers did not even leave Australia.
The Commonwealth Government evidently have in mind Dominions Office telegram of the 25th December, and (obviously not having yet learnt the contents of the later Dominions office telegram of the 6th January) have asked if they are to look to the High Commissioner in Candswa. for the July August and September (gjaims. The answer as regards procedure seems to be "no", bat it is clear that the Commonwealth Government
'7.F.R. HARDIE, ESQ~
·
had
mist
(6094) Wt. 25403-113 40,000 ea. 2 sorts 9/40 T.S. 695