CO129-627-4 Argyle Street explosion- correspondence on claims and enquiries 1-6-1946 - 31-7-1951 — Page 45

REGent 8131 Ext.

(2)

SCHEM

DISABLED

Your Reference...

Sir,

Ref: 25/Damages/3430 (C.C.)

52335

1.

2

RECEIVED

The War Office,

London, S.W.I.

20 August, 1949. 45

22 AUG 1949 COLONIAL OFFICE

I am commanded by the Army Council to reply to your letter 54423/49 of the 22nd June, 1949, and to request that the following additional matters be brought to the notice of Mr. Secretary Creech Jones in connection with the explosion at Argyll Street, Hong Kong on 2nd January, 1946.

Enclosed is a copy of the contents of a telegram dated 19th February, 1946, issued by this Department in connection with the arrangements affecting the financial aspects of the hand over of Hong Kong and other territories to the Civil Governments.

3 The Council consider that paragraph One (D) of that telegram would apply to the claims arising out of the explosion since, according to the information in the possession of this Department, all except one of the claims were presented after the 1st May, 1946, the date of the hand over. To secure uniformity of treatment of the claims it would be preferable if the Hong Kong Government took over all the claims.

4

If the Hong Kong Government will not accept responsibility for the claim of Mr. R. Der, presented before 1st May, 1946, it is requested that information be supplied as to how the Hong Kong Government proposes to deal with the remaining claims in order that Mr. Der's claim may be dealt with in a similar manner.

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office, London, S. W. 1.

/The