CO537-1658 — Page 34

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54179.

9 November, 1946.

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Gentlemen,

I am directed by Mr. Secretary Creech Jones to refer to my recent telephone conversation with a member of your office, to your letters J.A.L.B. of 15th October and 06th November and to your letters to the Crown Agents for the Colonies of 22nd Jctober, regarding the petition of Mr. Shum Wai Yau to the Secretary of State and to confirm that he has now received this petition. The matter is under consideration in Hong Kong by the Governor-in-Council as the competent authority under the Chinese Collaborators (Surrender) Ordinance, 1946, (a copy of this Ordinance may be inspected in the Colonial Office Library, but the Governor informs me that Mr. Shum's whereabouts are not at present known and he may have left the Colony.

As you were informed on the telephone. Mr. Creech Jones considers that no useful purpose would be served at present by his listening to the oral arguments of a K.C. on this matter, and I am to suggest that the petitioners best course is to make any representations to the Governor in the Colony.

I am to add that the assurance you mention in the last paragraph of your letter of 6th November is confirmed.

I ain,

Gentlemen,

Your obedient servant,

Sof. 6. J. Hastin

MESSRS. REID SHARMAN AND COMPANY.