-8-
occupation legislation.
It is believed that when collected
and translated such legislation may show breaches of Inter-
national Law but the legislation for the period January 1st-
June 30th 1943 of which a bound English version exists, is
not startling. There are two matters which are likely to
lead to difficulties.
1
a) It appears from Governor's Order No.25 of 1943
that enterprises referred to as Government owned were left
in charge of private individuals or firms who managed them
on behalf of the Jepanese administration.
shared between the Administration and the so-called trus tee
who was enabled to purchase the trust property of "the
rightful owners", This calls for investigation.
Profits were
b) By Governor's Order No.28 it was provided that
debtors of allied nationals could settle liability by paying
to Yokohama Specie Bank, eppointed Liquidators. Payment
might with the Governor's permission be effected by delivery
of other chattels. Titles were subseruently dealt with.
Information is not yet available as to whether proper
accounts were kept and whether assets are available to meet
the claims of such allied nationals. In any event these would
probably be, at most, a credit in yen.
Local solicitors who practised under the Japanese
will be questioned in both these points and are meanwhile
being treated with reserve. It is not considered, however,
that leave to practise under the present Administration should
be witheld until specific charges are made and substantiated.
Generally while law and order have very much
improved in the last three weeks and curfew was lifted with-
out any serious consequence, the necessity of rapid decision
on many matters of importance and with inadequate staff is a
source of anxiety.
17.
HONGKONG, 30th September, 1945
Gengers Wichland
Col. C.A. Legal
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.