CO129-575-5 Passport Office- authorisation for writing off deficiencies 31-3-1939 - 19-3-1940 — Page 33

No. 338.

SEEN BY DEPT 27/5 2/6

Sir,

26 MAY 1939

62621/39

4

34

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

15th May, 1939.

(2)

Aword. 9-

I have the honour to refer to my despatch No.294

of 20th April, 1939, on the subject of the writing off of

certain fees in connection with the issue of passports and

visas which have not been brought to account, the failure

to do so being attributed to irregularities committed by

Mr. R. G. Witchell, formerly of the Senior Clerical and

Accounting Staff. I have now to seek your approval for the

writing off of certain more extensive deficiencies which,

although they had been reported upon by the Auditor, had not

been brought to my notice at the time my despatch under

reference was written. I would express my apologies for

this oversight, which has made it necessary to trouble you

with a further despatch on the subject.

2. I enclose a copy of a full report on the matter

by the Assistant Auditor, which shows the following results:-

(a) 118 application forms were filed but were found

not to have been accounted for, representing

revenue amounting to $1,155.78. (Enclosure III

to report).

(b) 117 application forms representing an unknown sum

were missing from the files. On the average of

other collections the amount involved could

probably be assessed as being not less than $1,100. (Enclosure V to report).

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

HALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,

&c., &c., &c.