His Majesty's Government has been able to assist in
other directions, that there is in this country a
scheme, administered by the Board of Trade, under which
United Kingdom British subjects who were in captivity in
the Far Fast are eligible for consideration for limited
ex-gratia payments to enable them to purchase necessary
furniture and household goods. The grants are based
generally on the free cover allowances made under the
United Kingdom Private Chattels Scheme to those who
suffered losses in this country. The Far Eastern
Scheme is confined to those who, on being repatriated to
this country after liberation, intend to remain here
permanently and set up a home in this country.
As you may have seen, however, from the reply given
by the President of the Board of Trade to a Question by
Vernon Bartlett on the 17th December, it is proposed to
extend the Far Eastern Private Chattels Scheme to United
astern
Kingdom British subjects who were not in captivity but who
hevertheless suffered war losses of private chattels in
British or ex-British territories in the Far East, always
providing, as before that they have returned here and intend
to remain here permanently. Certain administrative
ifficulties have, however, yet to be overcome, and although
the Board hope to make an announcement shortly, I understand
that it may still be a little time before it will be in a
position to put the extended Scheme into operation.
It is the condition of residence in the U.K. imposed
in the above cases which makes it possible for His Majesty's
Lovernment to give this limited assistance at the expense of
.K. funds to persons who suffered losses in Hong Kong.
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