CO129-597-1 Estimates 1948 15-11-1946 - 12-6-1948 — Page 27

27

53652/47

IF.16/10/02

Dear Serpell,

The Church House,

Great Smith Street,

8.W.1.

March, 1948.

Ansd. (16)

I regret the delay which has occurred in replying to your letter of 24th ovember regarding the 1947/8 Hong Kong estimates but it was received at a time when we were particularly busy. In view of the lapse of time our approval of the Estimates le somewhat unrealistic bubigevertheless if only as & formality it will have to be done. I enclose the draft of our proposed despatch. It differs from the rely suggest d in your letter in the following particulars:-

(1)

(11)

(111)

3(a) of my letter or 30th July 1941 is now out of date as the recommendations of the Sularios Commission have been approved.

There is not much point in referring to staff reductions until we can send out an efficiency expert

As regards your paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 which deal with various aspects of "Treasury Control", I feel that it is preferable to leave these points over until we can send a comprehensive despatch which will be requireä when a decision is reached on the question whether Treasury will agree to relax their present control, following a decision on the Colony's application for a "Malta" grant.

D.R. SERPELL ESQ., O.B.E.

In