CO129-453 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [1-3] — Page 108

1

No 20

6.9

50957/26

101

C.O

1815€

REP

Br. 24 MAR 9,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 23rd, January, 1919.

My Lord,

I have the honour to acknowledge the

receipt of Mr. Long's Despatch No. 268 of the 5th. November regarding the insurance of men sent to India from this

Colony under the local Conscription Ordinance.

2.

Thirty men in all are affected, of whom

ten are married; and the maximum liability therefore amounts

to £40,000. Inquiry made locally as to the re-insurance of

this liability shows that the cost would be out of all pro-

-portion to the risk run.

3.

The Unofficial Members of the Legislative

Council were, at the inception of the scheme, unanimously in

favour of the risk being borne by the Colony; at a time when

it was anticipated that the number of men involved would be

considerably in excess of thirty. On receipt of the Despatch

under reply I consulted the Executive Council, who concurred

that re-insurance was inadvisable, having regard to the cost, and especially to the fact that hostilities had ceased since the Despatch was written.

4.

I would suggest therefore that the

Colony should continue to carry the liability, without re-

-insurance.

I have the honour to be,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient servant, had ever n

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

Officer Administering the Government.

&c..

VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,

*o.,