No.R.R.D.62/42
British Embassy,
Chungking
21st November, 1942.
94
Dear Sedgwick,
October.
I refer to your letter No.35/42 of the 11th
Payments to the next of kin of Civil Servants dying after the fall of Hongkong. In the particular case you have cited regarding:
Kiss Hung Mui Chi there would appear to be no point in hending any payment due to this lady now deceased to Mr. K. L. Chan if the intention is that the sisters are to receive it, They could surely collect it themselves upon arrival if they are entitled to do so.
As I see it, these sisters even though probably the next of kin they may not be the heirs and it would be necessary for them to prove they were before legal quittance could be assured to the Hongkong Government.
In all such cases the monies would, I think, have to be treated as frozen until after the war when the legal position can be determined.
If Miss Hung's sisters do come to Free China I would suggest that you use your discretion up to the sum involved but the monies advanced must be regarded as loans pending a final settlement of all such claims.
I propose sending an extract of your letter home together with this reply asking the Colonial Office for a ruling on the points you have raised.
Yours sincerely,
T. J. Fisher
Refugee Relief Department of
British Embassy
P. C. M. Sedgwick, Esquire,
Tang Fung Yee Wang Lo,
Ng Li Ting,
Kukong, Kwangtung.
cc. Hr. Bryan, Kweilin
Foreign Office
Colonial Office