36
:
from the Treasury, and the size of the grant which
would be required, it would be fruitless to expect
the Treasury to agree in principle to such a grant
as proposed in the Governor's despatch at No. 38;
and that therefore this general questi on must await
precise information as to these burdens (including
the amount of the war damage bill); and that in the
meantime it is proposed to proceed (as in the third
....
paragraph of your minute or the 12th December).
(I am deferring taking up the question of communicatin
with the Malayan Union and Singapore Governments, as
suggested by Sir T. Lloyd at X above, until the
question of what is to be done about Hong Kong has been cleared up with the Treasury.)
for comm rts/on
?Mr. Palmer should now prepare drafts/ on the lines
indicated in this minute.
Orig. a 54126/47 55 Hong Kong
Librey to note 50
Loted in
4h.
til 450
11.3.47.
4-3-47
Action on the lines proposed involves acceptance of the position that these territories have no special claim to financial assistance from
U.K. on account of their damages and losses due to military operations and enemy occupation, that, like other Colonies, they will be eligible for financial assistance from U.K. funds if they find themselves unable to pay their way.
In my minute of the 12th December,
I suggested that we should reply semi-officially to the Governor's suggestion for a grant for Hong Kong on the lines of that given to Malta, so as to avoid having to seek Treasury concurrence and thus committing ourselves at this stage to acceptance of the above position. I presume, however, from the direction in Sir Thomas Lloyd's minute of the 30th December, that Treasury concurrence should be obtained in the draft reply that it is considered that there would be no advantage in proceeding as I proposed.
In the circumstances I have no comments to offer on the action proposed by Mr. Paskin, except that I would suggest that we should avoid referring to the Treasury so far as possible in the draft despatch to the Governor.
See draft
draft on
on 54126/6/47.
£4.3.47.