108
1/54126/6/47
36550/19/467
observed from your telegram No.589 that the
vol expenditure on passages and on the eeunteers has
been charged temporarily to a suspense account
pending a decision as to the final incidence of
charge.
his clear thar,
4. In any event the total financial
liabilities with which the Colony will be faced are
and but
extremely heavy, in order that I may be in a better
position to consider your request for a grant by
H.M. G. to Hong Kong, to assist the Colony in meeting-
the heavy expenditure arising out ofthe Japanese
Live
pcoupation, it would be necessary to have a fuller
We
appreciation than it had been possible to draw up in
Colony, habiliting its
the Colonial Office, of the Financial position of the
Gelony over (say) the next five years. Such an
Would
appreciation should include the best estimate that
can be given of the Colony's liabilities for war
damage compensation and rehabilitation of Government
property and also for the expenditure on the local
volunteer forces referred to in your savingram No.464
of 30th December 1946; expenditure on passages of
ex-internees referred to in your despatch No.172 of
12th November 1946; expenditure on relief in Macao
of refugees from Hong Kong; and any other types of
special expenditure which arose out ofthe war and
Як which in some cases is still continuing, and you will be convenking if an indication attention coulx
doubtless indicate if in any partialar case you
drawn to
cares -consider that it will be political difficulty for is
to Guise
to Hong fromditio finally
55081/18/467
55077/2/477
be
where, wis
which unge be
Labra
£4,000, wo to his
53652/477
such expenditure to be charak
I the Gan
délire
vern-
ment funds. Ythe appreciation should also include
Corby the therous wood, doe) of the construction of an
con
international airport, I note from paragraph 7 of
your telegram No.533 that you propose to address me
in more detail in regard to the financial position
generally and doubtless in doing so you will take
/the