CO129-544-15 Administration of estates of deceased European officers 13-7-1933 - 13-7-1933 — Page 22

JOPY

22

Memorandum on the Administration of the Tstates of Deceased

persons other than officers in the service of the Government

of Hong Kong.

1. On the death of any person the Official Administrator

is entitled to take possession of the property of the decensed

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

the procedure to be followed for obtaining probate or

administration in the Colony or the re-sealing in the Colony

of a grant made

sewhere.

Where there is undue delay in obtaining representation

and also in the case of small tates, if the relatives

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 Offici al

Administrator takes such steps as are necessary for the

protection of the estate and usually pays the funeral expenses.

3. In order to avoid deterioration caused by heat and

humidity clothing and other articles of a perishable nature

are sold immediately by auction, as also are bulky articles

the cost of shipment of which would be disproportionate to

their value.

Articles of a personal nature are retained so that the

relatives way express their wishes as to their disposal.