COPY
(K 7717/663/245)
cpy to
Washington, No.47
Governor, Hong Kong. G...C., Hong Kong.
Commodore, Hong Kong.
60
26th October, 1941.
154
My Lord,
I have the honour to transmit herewith my account in connection with the Hong Kong evacuees.
2. The Philippine Red Cross closed its books for audit purposes on the 9tu. August, shortly after the departure of the last special refugee ship for Australia, and, as is shown in the auditors' report (copy of which is enclosed herewith), the total expenditure at that date amounted to Pesos 253,374.42. of this sum I have refunded Pesos 216,623.37, being the amount expended on board, lodging and local transportation of the evacuees. The balance, which includes hospital chargès, milk and similar comforts, as well as half the cost of all furniture and equipment purchased and the extra salaries and office expenses incurred by the Philippine Red Cross, has been met from a grant of U.S.$25,000 received from the American National Red Cross and a contribution of Pesos 1,000 made by the local British War Relief Association. About Pesos 14,000 of the grant still remained in hand when the audit was taken, but has since been almost entirely expended, partly in settlement of accounts for board and lolging not submitted before the audit, partly on office and audit expenses, and partly for the board, lodging and medical expenses of the thirty evacuees who were unable for medical reasons to sail in the special refugee ships and who have since been sent to Australia by regular liners.
I have already reported to your Lordship the names of United States and Filipino citizens deserving of recognition in respect of their generous and valuable services towards the Hong Kong evacuees. I avail myself of this opportunity to bring to your attention the names of those British subjects who I consider also merit special recognition.
3.
Mr. H.P.L. Jollye, who carried out the work of paying allotments to the wives of military officers and men;
Mr. Little, who acted as my representative in Baguio, where
more than half the evacuees were located;
Mrs.C.G.(Barbara) Agnew, Mrs.J.L.(Elsie) Bromfield, and my wife, Mrs. Beatrix Wyatt-Smith. These three ladies were included by Mr.Forster, manager of the Philippine Red Cross, in the list he furnished me of persons who had rendered especially deserving service towards the evacuees. From my own observations I can fully endorse Mr. Forster's recommendation, and it was solely on account of their British nationality that I refrained from including their names in the list of Red Cross helpers furnished in my despatch No.60 of the 16th. August.
/I
The Right Honourable
The Viscount Halifax, K.G., P.C., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E.,
LONDON.
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