CO129-544-15 Administration of estates of deceased European officers 13-7-1933 - 13-7-1933 — Page 20

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Memorandum on the Administration of the states of Deceased

persons other than officers in the service of the Government

of Hong Kong.

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1. On the death of any person the Official Administrator

is entitled to take possession of the property of the deceased

in the Colony and does so, unless there is in the Colony an

executor or person entitled to apply for the grant of letters

of administration.

After taking possession the official Administrator

communicates with the relatives of the deceased and any person who may appear to be entitled to grant of representation to or to participate in the distribution of the estate.

2. Detailed instructions are given to such persons as to the procedure to be followed for obtaining probate or

administration in the Colony or the re-scaling in the Colony

of a grant made elsewhere.

Where there is undue delay in obtaining representation and also in the case of small estates, if the relatives so desire, the official Administrator applies for the grant of

letters of administration to himself and in such event winds

up the estate and remits the balance to those entitled thereto.

Pending application for grant of representation to the Official Administrator or any other person the Official Administrator takes such steps as are necessary for the protection of the estate and usually pays the funeral expenses.

In order to avoid deterioration caused by heat and humidity clothing and other articles of a perishable nature are sold immediately by suction, as also are bulky articles the cost of shipment of which would be disproportionate to

their value.

3.

Articles of a personal nature are retained so that the

relatives may express their wishes as to their disposal.

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