CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6] — Page 328

N°

150.

C.O

34023

HES 11 JUL '8

326

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 21st. May, 1918.

Sir,

I have the honour to report that in March

last Mr. Edwards, whose appointment to be Storekeeper and

Accountant at the Government Civil Hospital was notified in

Sar

48515,

the enclosure to my Despatch No. 269 of the 15th. August, 1917, absented himself from his duties when it was discovered that

14.

the following shortages existed in bis accounts:-

1.

Revenue......................... .$102.16

2.

Advance account.

643.15

3.

Patients' deposits.. 467.82

4.

Pay lists.....

104.85

Total....1,317.98.

Against this sum has to be placed

Salary for March...........841.35

Half contributions to

Widows & Orphans Fund..151,18

$192.53

leaving a net deficit of 1,125.58.

2.

Mr Edwards was found by the Police

wandering at Kowloon. He was arrested and charged before the

Police Magistrate with embezzlement. He was in a condition of

intense mental distress, and it transpired that he had been induced to appropriate the money owing to debts incurred by

foolishly giving pecuniary assistance to friends.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WALTER LONG, M.P.,

&c.,

ac..

&c...

3.