CO129-622-8 Pre-war claim on Admiralty for supply of flour 21-10-1949 - 9-3-1950 — Page 30

Sir,

COPY. Enclosure 9.

30

Yard,

H.M.Victualling

Kowloon, Hong Kong.

14th July,1949.

(1)etc.,

Pre-Occupational claim for

flour supplied by L. Dunbar & Co.

I beg to inform you that the claim for $44,907.87, in respect of certain flour requisitioned by the Hong Kong Government and stated to have been delivered to the Naval Yard in December, 1941, has been examined at the Admiralty in the light of statements obtained from certain officers who were present at the time and have knowledge of the circumstances. Your letter No. C/5/67/45 of 30th November,1946 and subsequent correspondence refers.

2. The Admiralty state that the evidence obtained does not support payment of this claim in full. It is accepted that, as there was no naval stock of flour, it had been planned to draw siege requirements from the Colony's resources hut in the circumstances obtaining at the time this plan could not be fully implemented. It is stated that, at the outbreak of hostilities, it was agreed that the bulk of the flour should remain with the Food Controllerand supplies of two lots of 200 bags each were drawn and delivered into Naval depots, these being the only supplies of which there is any recollection. Considerable quantities of bread were, however, drawn up to the date of surrender from a baking organisation set up by the Army at Messrs. Lane Crawford's bakery. Approval has been given therefore for payment in respect of 400 bags only.

3. There is some doubt as to the quantity of flour represented by 400 bags. The quatity of 335,500 lbs in 4,400 sacks stated in the copy requisition would suggest sacks containing about 80 lbs per sack.

Flour of Canadian origin, as obtained from Messrs. Dunbar & Co., was invariably packed in bags containing 49 lbs. It has however been agreed that payment of $3452.00 may be made for one eleventh of the cost of the flour, i.e. 400 out of 4,400 sacks. No reason is seen why the Admiralty should be regarded as liable for payment of any part of the interest referred to in the claim.

4. On receipt of your confirmation that the sum of $3452,00 (Hong Kong dollars three thousand,four hundred and fifty-two only) is acceptable in final settlement of the above-mentioned pre- hostility claim, arrangement s for payment will be made.

Sir,

I have the honour to be,

Your obedient servant,

The Accountant-General

The Treasury,

Hong Kong.

(sd). Superintendent.

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