CO129-607-1 Enquiry into loss of public money 22-5-1948 - 26-10-1948 — Page 19

(iv)

- 2 -

19

Treasury to inquire if a cheque for this amount had been collected

He was informed that Mr. Chung Tse Chuen had collected the

cheque on the previous day, and that it had been cashed.

Mr.

Au-Yeung Man then reported Mr. Chung Tse Chuen's absence to

Mr. Chung Yiu Kei, an Executive Grade officer of the General

Clerical Service, who serves as personal assistant to Mr.J.Barrow,

0.B.E., District Officer, New Territories. Having made this

report, Mr. Au-Yeung Man first sent a messenger and later went

himself, to ask about Mr. Chung Tse Chuen's absence at his house.

He was informed that Mr. Chung Tse Chuen had not been seen since

about 5.30 p.m. the previous evening. Mr. Chung Yiu Kei and

Mr. Au-Yeung Man then informed Mr. Barrow of the facts.

then reported to the Colonial Secretary first by telephone, and

later by minute the fact that Mr. Chung Tse Chuen was missing

after cashing a Treasury cheque for $20,040.24.

at the same time informed.

Mr.Barrow

The Police were

Subsequently it was found that at the time he was last seen on the 11th May, Mr. Chung Tse Chuen had, in addition to the

$6,734.95 for which the bank paying-in slip was made out, and

the Treasury cheques for $20,040.24, and 884.00, referred to

above, the following sums in his possession:-

at Un Long District Office on 29.4.48:-

(a) Collected from the shroff

$3,223.45

(b) Collected from the shroff at Un

Long District Office on 6.5.48:-

£1,765.90

(c) Proceeds from cashing an open cheque

on or about the 11.5.48:-

$917.00

(a) The amount taken from cashboxes in

which Mr. Chung Tse Chuen usually kept his collections:-

$1,983.20

(e) A sum representing a discrepancy in

the Imprest Account:-

$

11.20

Total:-

$7,894.75

The total amount with which Mr. Chung Tse Chuen

has absoonded is thus £34,759.94. The last payment into the bank