OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
54126/6/48
En Clair
TO HONG KONG (Siz 4. Grantham)
Sent 11th May, 1948. 10.00 hrs,
63 129
No.532
Following la toxt of question and Answer in the Houas on 5th May regarding war damage compensation in Hong Kong referred to in my telegram No.533. Bagins.
Mr. Vernon Bartlett asked the Saoretary of State for the Colonies why the arrangementa regarding war darage compensation in Hong Kong provide no compensation for the destruction of personal property; whether he la aware that many persons who lost all their personal poseqasions have suffered permanent injury to their health in Japanese internment camps and are therefore seriously handicapped in their efforts to re-establish themselves; and why there is so large a discrepancy between the treatment of individuals in Malaya and in Hong Kong.
Hr. Rees-Williamo: The reasons for the general policy which has been adopted in Hong Kong with regard to war damage compensation are given in paragraph 2 of the statement relating to Hong Kong circulated in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Roid) on 26th April. As regards the second part of the question, it was announced in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Sir J. Lucas), on 30th October, 1945, that British subjects who had been repatriated to this country after release from captivity in the Far Eastern territorios, and who intended to remain here permanently, would be eligible for consideration for ex gratia grants for the purchase of furniture and household goods on the lings of, and within the limits of, the free cover provided in the United Kingdom Private Chattele scheme. My right hon. Frland is now considering, in conjunction with the President of the Board of Trade, the extension of this scheme to other British subjecte who have cuffered hardship through losses of private obattols in the occupied British territories in the Far East, and vho have returned to this country and intend to remain berg poznantly. Neither under the existing scheme nor under this suggested extension would any distinction be drawn botwoeu Welayan and Hong Kong claims,
Mr. Bar&latt: While thanking the bon. gentleman for his reply, may I mak if he can say when tble consideration to which he referred in the latter part of bis answer will be completed?
M. Roca-Williams; I could not say when. Tho matter is now under consideration,
Mr. Bartlett: It has been under consideration for a long time.
Mr. Ress-Williams; We shall expedito it.
Enda.
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