CO129-509-8 Military Contributions- claim for relief 24-2-1928 - 15-12-1928 — Page 60

501

10th July, 1928.

Dear Sir Cecil Clementi,

As arranged, I send you the enclosed copy of the

letter we sent to the Colonial Office last December, copy of which I believe they forwarded to Hong Kong in March, on the subject of the overpayment of £114,000 between 1917

and 1919.

I was naturally sorry to learn from you that an unfavourable reply from the Colony might be anticipated.

In view of the possibility, referred to in our

conversation, that a question of waiving the refund of this amount might be considered at a later date in connection with the heavy Works expenditure which the War Office will have to incur if H.M. Government decided upon a substantial increase in the garrison of Hong Kong, it might be well for a decision on the question to be deferred for the present. Perhaps you would be disposed to make

a suggestion to the Colonial Office in this sense?

Yours sincerely,

Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.M.G., etc.

Abrorland

Page 60Page 61