CO129-607-2 Military administration- accounts- etc. 3-2-1949 - 14-11-1949 — Page 29

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18253/17/1/48

COLONIAL OFFICE, DOVER HOUSE,

WHITEHALL, S.W.1.

29

22nd March, 1948.

Dear Hampson,

I have just seen a copy of Wagstaff's letter to you of the 9th March (16/Abd/2505(F.5)) about the currency notes uncovered in the Yokohama Specie Bank and put into circulation in Hong Kong by the British Military Administra- tion in September 1945.

We assume that these notes are part of the $5 million odd in Hong Kong notes referred to in Hong Kong telegram No;83 of the 13th January, 1947, copied to France in my letter of the 17th February, 1947 and that their sterling equivalent should be treated in the manner suggested in the fourth paragraph of your letter of the 17th April last (OF 63/22/23).

As soon as we hear that you and the Foreign Office agree with the War Office proposal to pass over the sum of £250,769:19:8 to the Crown Agents for the Colonies for the credit of the Hong Kong Government we will explain matters to the Governor.

I am copying this letter to Whitteridge and Scott, Foreign Office and Wagstaff, War Office.

Yours sincerely,

(Sġa.) D. Kelvin Stark

E.L. HAMPSON, ESQ.