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borrower appeared to be genuine so that the Board felt justified in giving assistance to the borrower and the money-,
lender, who was in some cases willing to accept a slightly
reduced sum than that actually lent.
+
To obviate the recurrence of such onses the
Board caused to be issued C.5.0. Confidential Circular No. 21
of the 18th July, 1917, drawing attention to the provisions
of the Public Servants Liabilities Ordinance and to the dis-
honesty that would be shown thereafter if any subordinate
officer attempted to negotiate a loan. The Ordinance now appears to be generally known to money-lenders in the
Colony.
The opportunity was taken in C.8.0. Confidential Circular No.21 of the 18th July, 1917, to inform the subor- dinate staff generally that they might still apply for assistance, the object being, if possible, to root out the indebtedness of subordinate officers to Indian money-lenders, The applications received were numerous, being 85 in number and the total sum applied for reached the total of 842,404. As there was grave risk of fraud being practised upon the Government in the case of new applications with few excep- tions, only fully authenticated debts to Indian money-lender were considered, It is hoped that the indebtedness of the | Subordinate Staff to Indien money-lenders is now reduced to an almost negligible amount. All debts to Indian money- lenders shown to the Board have been settled with the excep-
tion of several cases among the staff of the howloon-Canton Railway. Owing to the disclosures made in the case of one officer, now dismissed from the Service, the board felt they were unable to make any recommendations for se-istance to
the Railway Staff.
The Board commenced its sittings on the lat of May, 1917, and continued hearing applications, with one break of three weeks, till the 10th of September, 1917, holding in all 19 sitting. Applications received in 1915
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