35
PMA
British currency for cheques made payable after the War. The rates of exchange of the cheques for British currency were quite disgraceful and the currency was further ex- changed at equally exorbitant rates for Japanese Yen with which the necessary payments were made to obtain food from outside the Camp.
Apparently, during the years of captivity this traffic in cheques grew to a considerable degree and many Internees signed cheques eventually amounting to considerable sums of money.
It appears that after the liberation of Hong Kong, the Local Government, in September 1945, issued an Order under the Defence Regulations prohibiting dealings in any cheques issued by Internees in the Camp and calling for full particulars of all cheques so issued. The Order would appear to have been, from a Report concerning it contained in a copy of the Hong Kong Telegraph of the 2nd September 1945, in my possession, had the affect of a moratorium in respect of all such cheque transactions.
It now appears that certain of the persons who re- ceived such cheques in exchange for British currency of much less amount than that of the cheques, have appeared in this country and are proceeding to issue judgment summonses in the County Courts, against these unfortunate persons who drew the cheques in circumstances which might almost amount to duress and who in the main appear to have returned on retirement or in engagements in other work in this country.
The whole situation which was revealed to me is, as I think you will agree, somewhat disturbing and certainly deserving of close examination into the whole and real facts of the transactions.
Would you be good enough to let me have your views as to the effect of the Hong Kong Government Order issued
Continued/