CHEM
FOR DISABLED
F.5/Hong Kong/20
54224
THE WAR OFFICE,
WHITEHALL, S.W.1.
4/46
6
6
bol
February, 1946.
H
Dear Palmer,
I mentioned to you in a letter of 21st December a reference in a report from Hong Kong to the arrangements which their Administration were proposing to make with the Electricity Companies and expressed certain misgivings that we felt with regard to some of the terms. Since then we have received Hong Kong's telegram CA.1170 of 28th December which summarises the proposed arrangements and adds that the agreement in its final form would be forwarded by air mail for the approval of the Colonial Office. I do not know whether this report has yet arrived but in any case I assume that you will consult us before committing the Administration to this expenditure.
Without more information of the terms of the agreement it is not easy to comment in detail on the proposals but on the basis of the summary in the telegram of 28th December they have been examined by the branches concerned here and it has been pointed out that the agreement needs watching in respect of three points. In the first place we should endeavour to ensure the amount spent by the Administration in maintenance is not excessive; secondly, we should ensure that the companies pay for any military stores handed over unused at the end of the period of military control (in this connection I understand that various wiring stores etc. are being procured through military channels); thirdly, we should scrutinize the provisions with regard to the payment of rental.
H. Palmer Esq.,
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
S.W.1.
/Unless
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