CO129-628-10 War Damage Compensation- individual claims 1-1-1950 - 31-3-1951 — Page 123

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89 Glenbeigh Road,

Nr.Circular Road,

Dublin.

9th January, 1950

Your Excellency,

Dear Sir,

I respectfully request that the following matter be brought to the notice of the Hon.Sec. of State for Colonies (Mr.Creach-Jones) through your kind office.

I have being retired on pension from the Hong Kong Police Force on 29/9/1949 on medical grounds, having served twenty-two years. During Japanese invasion and Occupation of Hong Kong, I myself and family like thousands of other Britishers, had to clear out of our home and be interned by the Japanese in Stanley Civilian Internment Camp for 3 years and 8 months.

On our release from Prison camp in 1945 we were all informed that compensation of some kind would be made by Government for persons who lost their homes and property in Hong Kong as a result of Japanese occupation, 1941-1945.

On the 14/6/48 myself wife and daughter arrived on long leave in the United Kingdom having obtained a furnished flat in Dover, England. I was invalided on 29/12/49, on pension.

I tried hard without results to find a house for sale at a reasonable fee in England. As my people were Irish and having connections in Eire I managed to get a house at above address having to obtain a loan from the Educational Building Society, Dublin, i.e. having to pay back £8.10.0 per month for 20 years this taken out of my pension of £20/14 per month does not leave much over for household

use.

Now again with reference to this compensation regards loss of home and property in Hong Kong, I applied for and received a form for filling in stating full losses incurred. I forwarded-same to the Far East War Losses Department, Board of Trade, London.

Myself wife and family arrived in Dublin, Eire in July 1949 and purchased our present home.

On the 7/12/49 I received the attached letter from the Board of Trade informing me that owing to the fact that I have taken up house and home in Eire I am not entitled to any compensation re war losses. It appears that if I were to reside in England I would be entitled to this compensation.

It