276287
HAROF
wo 265/1030/46
11]
XUA386/BH Hong Kong 304/288 27 1330 EGETAT= DMEDIATE TROOPERS LONDON =
CA3617 for Civil Affairs and Colonial Office
Your 99625F5 and my 2494 8th March
083/6330(F.5).
CO. 54224/1946
274
466
1. Electricity companies now very hard pressed for cash in view of our
continued inability to pay rental pending approval draft agreement.
Request authority pay rental forthwith as indicated in paragraph 11
of Despatch No.3 15th January which you have now presumably received.
Six months period has expired and unless companies go back to
commercial operations immediately it will be necessary to place more
plant in operation which in terms of agreement would have to be
reconditioned at expense of administration.
2.
(A) and (B) of paragraph 2 of your 99625F5 were dealt with in
despatch and enclosures, As regards (A) (B) and (D) of paragraph 2
replies are as follows:-
• (A) Hong Kong Electric which was not operating on arrival of
British forces dollars 65,750: China Light which was in
operation nil since 1st November, probably small quantity in
very early days but o exact figure can be given. No unused
military stores except coal will be handed over when
undertakings go back to commercial operation,
(3) Figures up to 31st March as follows:-
China Light. Payments dollars 1,394,223 plus outstanding
liabilities 1,086,00 including 1,01(?),400 estimated cost of
coal.
Receipts 475,670 plus outstanding accounts 424/926 largely from services
up to end of February.
Hong Kong electrio. Payments 918,871 plus outstanding liabilities
in excess of 1,114,000 including 1,100,000 estimated cost of coal.
Receipts 708,146 including outstanding accounts 389,674 large
proportion of which since collected.
(D) China Light 35,000 Hong Kong Electric 54,000
Plse Ack 1037/46/IJ
/Distribution
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