21
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
COPY FOR REGISTRATION
40
1950
I
II
Code
21 SEP
DEFENCE & GENERAL 21 SEP 1950
REGISTRY
FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)
D. 20th September 1950. R. 20th
07.00 hrs.
IA LA
PRIORITY
No. 1079.
16
Your savingram No. 47?.
The list of stores suppl
mas Wer Office
has been very closely examined but great difficulty has been experienced in correlating the items as described and the records of this Government.
2.
Items positively identified in jur records with the exact description and quantity given in the War Office list have been underlined in red ink. Such items can be regarded as having positively been received in Hong Kong. Items which cannot be positively i lentified according to description and quantity given in the War Office List have been underlined in blue ink. In the absence of a comprehensive list of consignments hy individual vessels with name and approximate date of departure, all that can be said of these items is that some, or perhaps all, of articles of a similar but not necessarily identical nature, and up to, but not necessarily coinciding with quantity given in the War Office list were received in Hong Kong.
3. Remaining items which have not been underlined in either blue or red ink cannot be traced in our records and it must be presumed that either they did not reach Hong Kong, or if they reached Hong Kong were diverted direct to military establishments. The value of these items is approximately £300,000.
ㄩ。
It is also estimated that of stores kwn to have been received some £70,000 worth were consumed during the military administration period. The figures furnished during financial conference left £393,000 unaccounted for. If it is accepted that stores to the value of £300,000 either did not reach Hong Kong or were diverted to Service use and that a further £70,000 were utilised during the military administration, the balance of £23,000 can be assumed to be shortfall in items ticked in blue.
5. The War Office list of stores is being returned to you by air mail in time to reach the U.K. before 30th September, together with a more detailed statement showing the position as it appears to be, but it should be realized that not only is information very incomplete but that it is necessary to work backwards from balance which remains after payments already made to H.M.G. in respect of stores sold to the public are deducted from figure stated by the War Office to have been the total value of the stores.
Cormis sent
to
R. L. Manis (Toy) A.D. Harvey (W.0)