account of this particular category of claims. I have

Further

>

accordingly given this matter/most careful consideration

to see whether and if so to what extent I should feel

>

justified in pressing the Ministry of Supply to make

some payment, in respect of this category of claim, but

should not be pratified for the reasons given below I feel that I am not

Conviden

no

in a position to presente Hinistry of Supply on this

particular question. I am advised that their legal

claim lies against either the Government of Hong Kong

or H.M.G.in respect of this particular category of claim

and in fact I am not aware that you have ever suggested

m

مد

80

to proceeding.

>

1/Fresh line

nor

indeed has it been

any

7 suggested this

legal claima cotas.

Burgestel hy

that such a legal eleim exists, especially as the

stores were never delivered to so dement The enclosure –

Ja.

to Wyatt's semi-official letter of the 4th June, 1947

to Mr. J.B. Williams of the detestat urrice paragraph 7 which sets at

of the terms and conditions, states that payment with

be made against go downwarrants or mates receipts`.

I feel sure that you will agree that in the circumstances

there can be no legal liability in respect of these

claims; //

It is of course possible that had there been

some form of war risks goods insurance scheme in Hong

Kong prior to the Japanese occupation or had a war

damage compensation scheme been set up in Hong Kong,

the claimants in question would now be able to

night

I fresh line

as the latter

effect some recovery from the Chinese contractors,

might would in turn have been entitled to some payment under

they been set up: one or other of the above schemes, had such been in force.

(in any case

I see, however, considerable danger/in making any

what is in effect was damage; where no legal liability exists, especially

1

wtios soheme. To-

ex gratia payment where

where

and to

make such payments ex gratie in the case of a particular

might very well

category of claimants would be likely to have awkward

repercussions in Hong Kong where there were many claims

w

amounting to a very large sum total in respect of various

losses/

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