Copy to 54337/48
Orig. on 53652/48
28
14
IP.16/10/03
23rd November, 198,
Dear Wallace,
53652/491,I have a few comments on Hong Kong Sevingram No.699 about the
financial position for the first six months of the financial year 1948/49. În general the position disclosed seems reasonably satisfactory and shows that we were right in suspecting that estimates had been conservatively framed,
Lquest comed
2. In paragraph 8 the Governor meætians the claim which the Ministry of Transport is making for craft supplied to the Harbour department. We would like to be kept in touch with these negotiations.
3. In paragraph 10 the Governor hints at a possible further rise in cost of living allowances. Any such move should in our opinion be strongly paedwébe, as it entails devoting yet more revenue to this unproductive purpose, We would certainly like to be kept closely informed of any proposals to increase the allowances,
4.Incidentally we seem to have no copy of your dispatch No.302 of the 25th September, 198, to which the Governor refers. Can we please have one, if it is relevant to the points I haveU raised?
#. I. J. Wallace, Esq., Ü.B.Bes
Colenial Office.
Church House,
Great Smith Street,
S.W. 1.
Yours sincerely,
W. RUSSELL EDMUNDS.