E
detailed
in Hong Kong as there are no records in the Admiralty or in
the Colonial Office of the circumstances in which the vessels
were requisitioned and were subsequently lost or destroyed.
on the charms It is not possible, therefore, for any action/ to be taken in
this country-regards the claims. I am, accordingly,
arranging for a copy of this correspondence to be sent to
the Hong Kong Government sethat should you wish to pursue
the matter further on your return to Hong Kong, the Colonial
Secretariat win have on record the result of your reference
to usn
but
4. I return the enclosures to your letter of 19th May
for convenience of reference by the Colonial Secretariat on
receipt of a copy of this letter, I take the opportunity
of summarising hereunder the individual claims :-
S.S. "Kinshan"
S. S. "Taishan"
S. S. "Chungshan"
S.S. "Tai Hing"
S.S. "Tai Ming"
Requisitioned and subsequently
/ordered to be scuttled; subsequently
raised by the Japanese; present whereabouts unknown.
Requisitioned for use as a depot ship
and subsequently sunk by enemy bombing.
Believed to have been shelled by
Colony's forces.
Loaned to Hong Kong Government for use
by Hong Kong R. N.V.R. and believed subsequently to have been sunk by Government.
Requisitioned by Hong Kong Government
and believed subsequently to have been scuttled by order of Government.
Yours sincerely,
.18.