CO129-607-1 Enquiry into loss of public money 22-5-1948 - 26-10-1948 — Page 64

countant General,

District Office,

m

Acting on your instructions, I visited the

Kowloon Magistracy Building, on Thursday the 29th instant, to ascertain from its records the amount of public money misappropriated by Mr. CHUNG Tse Chuen when he absconded from that office on 11th May. I also found it necessary to visit both the Yuen Long and Taipo District Offices.

The principal records which I examined at the head office (Kowloon Kagistracy Building) were a Daily Collection Book, Treasury Voucher Cash Book, and Cash Book, and from these I deduce that the misappropriations from that office amount to $32,142.84, while the Yuen Long shortage amounts to $3,223.45. The total is therefore $34,366.29, arrived at as follows:-

Head Office

Total of daily collections from 1.5.48 to 10.5.48

Less Cash in hand counted by lir. Wakefield on 12.5.48

$10,484.05

212.6

$10,271.40

Add Amount of Treasury Vr.

No. 1386 dated 27.4.48

820.00

Cheque issued on 10.5.48 under Treasury Vr. 400

Shortage in Imprest

20,040.24.

11.20

20.871.M

$31,142.84

Yuen Long District Office

Suitors Fund Collections

Total

7.223.1

$34,366.29

I should add here that the cabh in hand of

$212.65 includes the sum of £31.65 at present held by the head office in respect of the Treasury Voucher for $320, and it is understood that an application has already been submitted for the difference of 788.35 under this voucher to be made up.

No shortages were apparent from the records

being kept at the District Office, Taipo.

With regard to the differences now existing between my figures and those appearing in paragraph (iv) of the report of the committee appointed to enquire into the D.Q.'s losses, I have to offer the following comments:-

(a)

$3,223.45. This is Suitors Fund money, and appears to be the only amount missing from the Yuen Long District Office,

(b)

$1,765.90. This money was collected by the Yuen Long District Office, and a Treasury receipt covering its payment into bank is at present being held at the head office. This should be forwarded to the Tuen Long office to support their payment entry into bank. The entry of this bankslip receipt again the head

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