CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 747

Government imposed a special tax on shipownets. Sir G. Grindle was prepared to admit this, but he pointed out that this was a disability shared in war-time by Hongkong

ith home shipowners, wnd that it could not be avoided, Es observed that it was only for technical reasons, hot specially affecting HongKong, that it had been decided hot to apply the Imperial Indemnity Act to the Colonies, nd that as a matter of fact such a course had been vETY eriously considered. The HongKong Ordinkuce was a piece f Imperial policy, which no Secretary of State was likely jo reverse, and it was inconceivable that it should be isallowed, He added that, to put matters quite bluntly,

e disposal of the profits was imaterial so lug as he object - that the shipowners should not get them

is attained,

Some discussion followed, arising out of the point at the profits had not been paid into general revenue (as ere) but were held in a suspense acocunt. Mr.PurI QUŠAS htimated that his firm (a hanghai one) right have

Quiesced in the money being spent on definitely "war" argoses, but that when a proposal was made that it should

devoted to housing the poor of Kowloon, they were roused.

to testing the legal position, Hence the followme case.

ir G, Grindle however took the view that this was in fact

rely a point of accounting and not of any real imporsance.

Mr. Borrowe and Mr. Sur:111 then coverted to the

int of war risk insurance. Mr. Burkill said that heavy

guenta were made to insurance companiec, his firm having

knowledge that the Government would insure. He denied

korledge of any letter such as that in 34042/18

enclosure

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