Compens
54422
(39) 54147/3/25/
•
expenditure. In the circumstances I feel that it is only equitable that the cost should now be accepted as a part of the general settlement as a charge against Imperial funds.
45
18.. Another commitment which I consider that I should bring to your notice is a claim which has been received in respect of the cost of maintenance of Hong Kong internees during the occupation period and for their repatriation at the end of the war. These enemy nationals were apparently transported to India some time before the Pacific War commenced and were lodged in camps under arrangements made by the Government of India. A similar arrangement was made by some of the African Colonies under which enomy nationals wore transferred to camps in Southern Rhodosia and the Union of South Africa. The Colony in which they were originally resident mot a proportion of the capital cost of the camp and their daily maintenance expenses, and, on repatriation was credited with a proportion of the break-up value of the camp. If Hong Kong had not been occupied, the Colony would unquestionably have been responsible for the maintenance of these intornoes, but, in the event, there seems to be a case for the charge being accepted as an Imperial commitment in that Hong Kong's own resources during the occupation period did not suffice to meet such claims. The cost amounts to approximately £20,000 and has not yet been charged to expenditure.
19
Before leaving the subject of claims, there is onc further class that arises from the war, The Japanese Air Force authorities found that the facilities at Kai Tak Aerodrome were inadequate for their requirements and they decided to extend the runways. This involved the resumption of a considerable area of land and the destruction of the buildings erected there on. As was explained in my savingram No. 766 of 8th December, in view of the fact that the so extended runways continued to be used after the re-occupation, it was decided to compensate the lessees of the land but not to pay any compensation in respect of the buildings as somo had been paid already by the Japanesc and it would, in any case, be invidious to single out this class of case for special treatment if no gencral compensation is to be paid. No compensation was paid by the Japanese in respect of land as distinct from the buildings. It is expected that compensation in respect of land alone will total approximately $5,000,000, This Government has benefited directly as a result of this action of the Japanese and it is not suggested that these compensation payments could fairly bo regarded as part of the Concral cost of the war. It is considered, however, that if there had been no occupation and this Government had resumed the land itself, as it would almost certainly hav. boon forced to do to provide adequate facilitios for more modern aircraft, some grant towards the total cost would have been made by the Air Ministry in recognition of the fact that the acrodromo is extensively used by service aircraft. In any general settlement, therefore, I feel that it would not be unreasonable to suggest that some percentage of this payment of approximately $5,000,000 should be met from Imperial funds.
20.
In a different category there are two further commitments. The first is the advance made to the University, to which your predecessor referred in his despatch No. 22 of the 24th July, 1946. Of the sum of £100,000 advanced £70,000 was regarded as a grant and was utilised to moct claims for arrcars of salary of the University staff during the period of their internment. The remaining £30,000 was to be regarded as a loan free of interest for the time being. I am assured by members of the Committee that they understood at the time that the grant was being mot by the Imperial Government. The University of Hong Kong is not of purcly local importance.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.