54447/5/51
120/overseas/300
GHDS
18
The Church House
Great Smith Street,
Z
S. W. 1.
14 August, 1951
Thank you for your letter of the 30th July, in reply to mine of the 10th, about the Hong Kong Government's claim in respect of requisitioned railway materials.
You ask again for "particulars of the disbursement of the £105,000" and suggest that the production of further details should be a fairly simple matter. I quite agree that in most cases it would be, but not in this one. As you know, His MajestyŁ Government were unable to afford Hong Kong protection against the Japanese and consequently many of the Colony's records were lost during the Japanese occupation. I do not wish to seem unreason- able, but may I ask if you have taken full account of Hong Kong Saving No. 862 of the 11th August, 1950, a copy of which was enclosed with my letter to you dated the 25th August, 1950?
This saving contains the basis of the Hɔng Kong claim for £105,000 and makes it apparent that the Hồng Kong Government had to meet the following expenditure in connection with the 600 railway Wagons:-
To the South China Iron Works To the Lin Han Kou Iron Works Railway Workshops
* 705,660 $730,679 $246,900
[£105,000 = $1,680,0007
Lieutenant-Colonel G. V. Seymour, O.B.E.
$1,683,239
/Pssides