CO129-590-11 Commission of Enquiry into irregularities in Immigration Departments 22-4-1941 - 19-12-1941 — Page 60

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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63

And I think it would be correct to say that none of us knew what

amount of money would be handed in?

A. Quite so.

Q. It was not long after the Ordinance became operative that I told

you that the Imprest account was inadequate?

Yes.

A.

Q. Chinese New Year was on January 27th. The situation became acute

then. Your department does not function on New Year and holidays .

The Chinese New Year happened to be at the week end. Do you

happen to remember what the imprest account stood at at that time?

I could not remember

A.

mQ. If I said $12,000 ?

A.

Q.

A.

I would accept that.

Just now $12,000 per day is quite an ordinary turnover?

Yes.

Q. So it was quite inadequate with an imprest of $12,000 to cope with

the public during the Chinese New Year especially if there is an

unusual amount of traffic? Many of them would be through passengers

who would require their deposits refunded urgently in order that

they may leave in a hurry. Do you or do you not know that at that

time I was in such straits that I had to borrow money from a money

changer?

A.

I did not know that. If I remember rightly, I increased your

imprest to $22,000 at that time.

Q. Recently did you notice I have been in the habit of noting on the

voucher, on which I sign deposit receipts, the time of day?

A. No, I have not noticed that. I don't see vouchers very much myself.

Are you acquainted with the type of cash book which was devised

before the opening of the department on 17th November?

A, I remember the one which I devised.

Q.

It was put in my hands by Mr. Taylor?

A. Yes.

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