CO129-590-2 Evacuees- memorandum on financial policy and administration in Australia 31-8-1942 - 9-12-1942 — Page 12

4.

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laid down under the evacuation scheme were paid fortnightly

in advance by the Commonwealth sub-Treasuries on authorisation

of the Finance Liaison officer.

Copies of the authorisations were transmitted to

the Accountant-General, Hong Kong, by Air Mail weekly to

enable him to effect recovery from persons normally respon-

sible for the maintenance of the recipient of the allowance,

and, as far as is known, recovery was effected in these

cases. This office was not furnished with full particulars

of anounts recovered. In the majority of cases however

those to whom allowances were authorised were of the indigent

class, i.e. widows, Divorcees and elderly spinsters who

were unable to obtain suitable employment and it is under-

stood that non-recoverable expenditure of this nature was a

charge against Imperial and not Hong Kong Funds.

(8)

Medical Expenses.

In cases where the Evacuees was unable to meet the

cost of medical treatment the account was authorised for

payment through the Commonwealth sub-Treasuries.

Detailed

lists of authorised expenditure were submitted to Hong Kong

weekly for recovery, where possible, from persons normally

responsible for maintenance.

In the case of dependants of

Government officials recovery was effected in accordance

with the scale of medical and hospital charges laid down in

the General orders of the colony.

(h)

Administration Expenses.

These expenses have been definitely limited to

salaries of office assistants, stationery, cables and other

sundry office expenditure.

(i) Other Expenditure.

Expenditure under this head was only incurred on

the authority of the Hong Kong Government and included cost

of repatriation of certain Evacuees to Hong Kong permitted

to re-enter the colony.

Detailed information of this class