1
C
л
TELEGRAM /
*
Draft
• The word Priority may be entered here, if necessary.
To:-
GOVERNOR,
HONG KONG.
19
File No.
54150/51.
Fishe
Sent. 15.45 Mrs.
Mr. Palmer 10/5
Repeated to :-
Mr. Somerton 11/5
Mr. Hall
din Tunney,
Mr. Deswith "/T
aht
Priority:-
Sir
XXOOX
Permt. U.S. of S.
Parly. U.S. of S.
S. of S.
XXXXXXXXZXZXяXXX
XXXXXXXX30XX
Immediate.
XMKYZIEK ZIZKI
(10)
To be transmitted:-
In XXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
Cypher
Typexe
Your telegram No. 537.
hours.
11/5/51/1014
No.boj
yes.
RESEKANZX
Secret
XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXIX
Netherlands Harbour Works.
(Treasiry (Mr.Lovelock)
Agree).
RECEIVED
11 MAY 1951
In Tel. CO.
Distribution :—
وا
(8)
Copy to Mr.Somerton for registration on defence papers.
Circulate as in No.10.
Further action :-
Wt. 23588,882 50m 9.49 Wa. & Co. 51/3
(8)
There is of course, objection, to Broposal in
not come her titsby sching paragraph 1 of your telegram No. 516/that similar
protection against losses in the event of war may be de-
manded by every expatriate contractor employed on Govern-
ment work. Moreover for H.M.G. specifically to under-
write the proposal might be argued by interested parties
as committing H.M.G. to 100% compensation for war damage
and losses should such circumstances unfortunately arise
more especially if the damage or loss were due to denial
action carried out either on Government orders or directly
by Government servants. Paragraph 3 of your telegram
No.516 seems in fact to indicate that Government would be
committed even more strictly to 100% compensation than
if requisitions were carried out under defence regulations.
You are of course, fully aware of the difficulties of this
problem arising out of denial action taken in 1941 and
H.M.G. is naturally anxious to avoid being committed in
any way on this matter without full consideration of all
its aspects. In the above circumstances this problem
has far wider implications than concern Hong Kong on this
particular contract. H.M.G. is therefore bound to
reserve its position and cannot (repeat cannot) accept
/that
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