CO129-510-14 Report of committee of enquiry into discrepancies and losses in government departments in Hong Kong... 21-4-1928 - 24-10-1928 — Page 112

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"Most of the large contractors are known to

me personally and all are known to me by name,

and I am aware of all extensive works which

large contractors have imhand. I see all the

contracts after the tenders are accepted.

After scrutinising the vouchers, I sign

the cheques and initial the paylist to indicate

that the cheques have been signed. I then repin

the cheques to the paylist.

The cheques and vouchers are then taken from my desk by the "egistry clerk himself, or

by a messenger, who hands them to the Registry

clerk. The Registry clerk's table is within a

few yards of my own.

The Registry clerk sorts out the paylists,

setting aside those which are for Government

departments, and places thse with their cheques

in envelopes ready for dispatch to the depart-

ments concerned.

The paylists and cheques for contractors'

and other non-Genernment people's accounts are

handed over by the Registry clerk to the No.1

shroff.

The No.1 shroff detaches the cheques and

hands the paylist to a junior clerk, who notifies

the contractors that their cheques are ready.

When the contractors present themselves

for payment, the No.1 shroff gives them their

cheques and obtains the necessary signatures on

the vouchers.

Without collusion on the part of the

messenger, the Registry clerk or the No.1 shroff,

it would be exceedingly difficult, if not imposs-

ible, to obtain possession of a cheque (otherwise

than by payment out over the counter), once the