CO129-569-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps 29-8-1938 - 21-12-1938 — Page 21

•G/594.

COPY

57/China/943 (M. G. 0.1)

18th August, 1938. Recd. 19th August, 1938.

Sir,

21

I am directed to refer to your letter No. C. R. C. C.

1637 (C. S.) of 3rd June, 1937, requesting authority to

demand from home, in advance of requisition from the Colonial

Government, the anticipated amount of ammunition required

for annual practice by the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps.

In reply I am to inform you that the departure which you

propose from paragraph 504, Regulations for Army Ordnance

Services (Part 1) 1937, cannot be approved.

Save in the

exceptional cases described in the Regulation referred to,

practice ammunition should be obtained by Colonial Governments

by requisition through the Crown Agents for the Colonies.

As a general rule, practice ammunition must be

specially manufactured or filled and cannot be supplied in

less than twelve months from the date of receipt of a

requisition. Even if, in exceptional cases, practice

ammunition is available in stock at home for issue to

Colonial Governments, supply in the case of Hong Kong would

take several months owing to the length of time required to

secure suitable shipping accommodation and for the voyage.

In these circumstances it appears that the Government

of Hong Kong might consider purchasing a year in advance,

the practice ammunition required annually for the Hong Kong

Volunteer Defence Corps. The Colony's financial year

commences on 1st January.

A requesition placed as soon as

the estimates of the Colonial Government for e.g. 1939 are

The General Officer Commanding,

The British Troops in China.

Copy to:-

The Crown Agents,

/approved

4, Millbank, S. W. 1.