SCHEM
NATIONAL
UN-FOR
DISABLED
MEN
Telephone No.: WHITEHALL 1234.
In
reply
please quote Regd. No.
S.33955/01.
125
anod
Dear Poynton,
TREASURY CHAMBERS,
53/31
WHITEHALL, S.W.1.
7th October, 1940.
RECEIVED
SECRET.
-8 OCT 1940 C) REGY
You will remember previous correspondence under your reference 5402/40 about the building by Hong Kong at its own cost of certain naval vessels. The Government originally offered to build two Bangor Castle minesweepers and various smaller defence vessels, but we subsequently learnt from the Admiralty on the 27th July that a second pair of minesweepers was being substituted for the smaller defence vessels. Hong Kong was thus building four minesweepers as a gift to H.M. Government. The Admiralty now inform us that they have heard that, owing to unexpected expenditure connected with evacuation, the Hong Kong Government could only finance the building of two ships instead of four. The Government asked whether in the circumstances the Admiralty would assume responsibility for the cost of the other two, stating, however, that if money became available in 1941-2 it would be applied in aid of these two vessels. The Admiralty add that an immediate decision was necessary and they accordingly had to inform Hong Kong that they would take over the two vessels.
I have mentioned this to your orally, and you said that your papers did not show that you had received any information about this matter. I do not quite understand why the Admiralty should be dealing direct with a Colonial Government in a matter of this kind, and I should be glad to have any observations you may care to offer.
Yours sincerely,
A.H. Poynton, Esq.,
Colonial Office.
kkówan
Page 30Page 31
C.O.
REGISTERED No.
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