8
시
Dr Jahily.
Practically our only information as to the arrangements made by the Hongkong Government with the Maryknoll Mission, for the care of · these lepers, is that contained in (10) on 53533/41, which does not give any indication either as to the permanence of the arrangement with the Maryknoll Mission, or on the question whether the $6 per head per mensem, which is mentioned in (7) on this file, was intended to cover the full cost of the maintenance of these lepers.
As regards Mr. Taylor's point that these
lepers were not inhabitants of Hongkong, but Chinese who had taken refuge there, see
Paragraph 226 of the Hongkong Administration
Report for 1939. That statement however did not
relate (so far as I can see) to the lepers transferred to the Maryknoll Mission.
you can throw some light on this.
Perhaps
Unless you are able to throw any additional light on the subject, Mr. Gent and I are disposed to think that, in reply to the telegram at (11), the Foreign Office should be asked to inform Chungking that the Colonial Office has no knowledge of the extent of the obligations undertaken by the Hongkong Government (for example, they do not know whether the $6 per mensem was intended to cover the full cost of the maintenance of these lepers) and suggest that Chungking should consult Mr. Sedgewick on this point. It might also be observed that the difference of $750 and $6 per head per mensem is so great that it seems difficult to account for it solely as being caused by increased cost of maintenance, and that it might well be that the obligations undertaken by the Hongkong Government might be satisfied by some less amount. co.
ald anything
last wen
as to x above?
9. Раский
2nd July, 1943.
Yes. But the request is for $700 chuisse Tomamitaine (man
people in China.
Mr. Paskin.
The stipulated sum of H. K.86.(= 7s.6d.) per head per mensem was the full extent of the obligation undertaken by Hong Kong Government.
H.M.Ambassador to China now suggests Chinese national dollars 750 (= £9:7:6d at official rate of exchange) per head per mensem as a more equitable sum in view of the increased cost of living. The amazing difference in the two figures may be explained by the fact that there is definite "inflation" in China and that the official exchange rate for Chinese national currency as against the £ sterling and the U.S. is most flattering to the Chinese dollar. The fictitious value thus given to Chinese national currency may be most desirable, even essential, from the political point of view, but it has very little relation to the actual value of the Chinese dollar in China itself.
Regarding X, the fact that the Hong Kong Government made commitments in connection with the
maintenance
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maintenance of Chinese lepers and mental cases in China may be regarded as a matter of expediency and not a question of moral obligation.
It was cheaper to give grants for the maintenance of cases transferred to China than to construct and maintain large institutions in Hong Kong.
This arrangement applied not only to lepers and lunatics domiciled in Hong Kong but even to cases deported by the United States and Canadian authorities. As the "Empress" and "President" vessels called at no port in South China, other than Hong Kong, all unwanted Chinese were "dumped" on Hong Kong.
In the majority of cases, relatives or friends took the lepers or mental cases, usually mild, to their native villages in China but, very
often, Hong Kong had to incur financial obligations in respect of such deportees (Shipping Companies had to guarantee all expenses likely to be incurred in connection with the maintenance, treatment and repatriation of cases other than Chinese). However, the expenses normally incurred in connection with Chinese cases was very small, considering the revenue Government derived, directly or indirectly, from the fact that Hong Kong was the main port of emigration for South China - indeed the only one for emigrants to U.S.A., Canada, Central and South America, Australia and South Africa. Chinese third class
passengers to most countries were regarded as "emigrants", notwithstanding the fact that they might be citizens of the U.S.A. or countries other than China.
Hong Kong's position was unique in that it was not merely a port of arrival and departure for overseas Chinese but also a most important transit port or junction for Chinese travelling from one part of China to another. This was what made any real measure of control exceedingly difficult. was a "free" port in most senses of the word.
Hong Kong
-
The arrangement with the Maryknoll Mission concerning lepers was not in existence in 1939
it was made only when the Japanese occupation made other courses impracticable.
Di Jchily
J. P. Fehily
5. 7. 43.
you say
whether
The H.K. $6 a
represented (at the time
But
Cam
head
anagement
Ythe
is merely
Ch
mare)
→)
The full cost
these lepers? Or was
of these
"Entributin"
of something
age 9
age 9
Page
10
less than
the full cost, (based possibly
on the
Consm.
that
There
lepers
Came with Him from Cheria)?
هما
Mr. Paskin
full
arrangement
Withing
I believe that H.K. $6, would have covered the cost of
maintenance at the time of the made. The main consideration was
food as the lefers were housed in "matshed," and the sisters expected no renumeration
for their services, so that there was
practically
no" overhead" mission took an interest in lepers when
shooting
[The Maryknoll? there were persistent rumours that the Japanese were lepers in Panton - elsewhere. I understand that the Marghmoll Fathers interceded & saved some lepers
when their
A
settlement in the West River district was burned down by Japanese soldiers].
Mi Camie,
go 27/17/14305
Jehily
I shas. Ion gratieful for your
advice
on thai.
emmange
IL
positivi
سلم من
Виши april
Iha
abome
maintes,
is Ihada
made
1941
The Govt. of
д
Hu.
missin
arangement
with
سام
mary
Umoll
whomely the
Cham
lepars
payment of
musin' agreed
in consideration of
H.K. $6 per hand pen m.
to
loosh after
arh.
al-
that
time represented
cort
mani Kenance.
this file we
G
Vritually the full
In No. 8 on
agues
continuation of this payment. Now
for
this parment to
the missin
Page
age 10
age 10Page 11