Sect. file 1/3371/51
SAVINGRAM
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
From the Governor, Hong Kong.
it
Date October, 1951..............
71
4
K.
No.
1167
This Government has recently decided to make an offer for the purchase of two picture collections in the United Kingdom. The first is owned by Mr. Wyndham 0. Law of Balgownie, West Way, Worthing, Sussex, for which £1,000 is being offered, our ceiling price being £1,250. The second collection is owned by Mr. G.R. Sayer of 18 Hillside, Wimbledon, S.W.19; the Government's offer for this is £1,000, which it is understood Mr. Sayer would be willing to accept.
I have asked Mr. Duncan J. Sloss, C.B.E., formerly vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, whose present address is 313 Woodstock Road, Oxford, to negotiate on this Government's behalf with Messrs Law and Sayer and have informed Sloss that the Crown Agents will, if purchases are effected, make all arrangements for shipping the pictures to Hong Kong. I have also told him that someone from the Colonial Office will get in touch with him in connexion with any arrangements that may be necessary for cleaning and transporting the pictures and that whatever expenses he may incur over this matter, such as train fares etc., are to be charged to this Government. I enclose a copy of my letter to him and would be grateful if you would communicate with him directly.
I also enclose a rough catalogue of the pictures in Mr. Law's collection and a list of the pictures it is proposed to purchase from Mr. Sayer.
I have received a letter from Sloss confirming that he is ready to undertake this work for us.
Encl: AC: ASW
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE
23 OCT 1951
COLONIAL
FICE