12.
- 3 -
This
I cannot emphasize too strongly that although law and order has
improved, there is every reason against keeping pro per ty in store for
any length of time. Looting and organised thieving continues.
supplies to abandoned property or the property of which the owner is
unknown as well as to enemy property and I urge that authority be given
to make all possible use of such property and that power be given to
sell. The only disadvantage, of such course is that sale or disposal
may make it difficult for the owner to identify but this can to a large
extent be remedied by proper recorás. Moreover against such disadvan-
tage one can offset the chagrin of an owner who returns to find part of
his property gone and a heavy bill for taking into custody, storage etc. If the principle is approved I think the machinery of the
Ordinance can readily be adopted.
13. Meanwhile I have obtained excellent co-operation from the
Forces both in providing guards and in issuing orders to give the
Custodian every assistance and not to interfere with property under his custody. I regret to state, however, that there is some suspicion
that the Naval Guard may be implicated in a fairly large theft from
Godown 150 in Kennedy Town.
6
Hongkong, 6th October, 1945.
Colonel, C.A.
Legal Branch.