49
(25) on '48 file.
(36) & (46) on '48.
moment, owing to the Governor's strong
representations regarding the first
item-(a) Volunteers etc.- amounting to
£1,007,000 (see his telegram No.402 of
21st April, 1948). The Governor would
tius have good justification for claiming
that the £1 million did not include any
assistance in respect of the claims now
under consideraton (see his telegrams
Nos. 406 and 426 of 22nd and 27th April,
1948). At the time, our attitude caused
considerable consternation locally.
On looking at the problem again I think
we cannot altogether exclude from
consideration the fact that we have
recently agreed to double the grant to the
Malayan Governments in respect of their
war damage compensation scheme. Taking all
the factors into account in the case of
the Hong Kong claims, it seems to us that
there might ultimately be a case for asking
His Majesty's Government to make a further
grant of up to, say, 65% of whatever is
eventually found to be the amount actually
spent, subject to a maximum of perhaps
£1 million. (The figure of £1,000,000 is
taken as it is approximately 65% of
£1 millions referred to above, and is
on the Malayan precedent
J
equivalent to
an adachinal Lequivalent to the amount, the amount for the grant initially offered.)
dachimal
If such a grant were made to the Hong Kong
Government, it would of course have to be on
the clear understanding that the
responsibility