CO129-591-7 Estimates for 1946-1947 12-12-1945 - 14-3-1947 — Page 133

54126/1/46 1/2/46

Code

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

12-

TO HONG KONG (Sir M. Young)

FROM S. OF S.. COLONIES.

Sent 25th May, 1946. 13.30 hrs.

IMPORTANT

No.202

Hong Kong Estimates 1946-7.

One. Detailed comments follow by savingram. Provision of £900,000 to cover Hong Kong deficit was made in current year Colonial office estimates. This was merely a token figure before any information was available as to the probable deficit. The position now appears to be as follows:-

(a) £1,400,000 was C.-in-C.'a estimate of deficit for period 1st May 1946 to 31st March 1947, but presumably no account was taken of following liabilities in preparing estimates:-

(b) £100,000 grant to the Hong Kong University (see my despatch No.22 or 24.5.46).

(c) $500,000 being an arreare claim for the period 1st January 1945 to 31st March 1946 received from Foreign Office in respect of expenditure in Macao on refugees from Hong Kong and on Hong Kong Government officiels and pensioners. This claim has not (repeat not) been chockså bu& previous similar claims have been charged agailet Hong Kong Government funds and subject to your comments provision should be made for meeting it and possibly a further (say) £50,000 in respect of expenditure during current year, without prejudice to question of ultimate acceptance of total charge;

(d) £12,000 Kai Tak Aerodrome (my telogrem No.126 18th May);

(e)