CO129-628-11 War Damage Compensation- individual claims 1-3-1951 - 31-3-1951 — Page 27

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

-27

1725/45/5

Cypher 0.7.F.

FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

IMMEDIATE

D. 9th July, 1951. E. 9#

If

13.15 hrs.

No. 748. Secret.

Addressed to Secretary of State.

Repeated Governor, Federation of MelaR,

No. 33.

*R

Governor, North Borneo, No. 147. Governor, Serawak, No. 140.

Governor, Singapore, No. 66

(Singapore please pass North Borneo

and Sarawak)

Your telegram No. 835.

Japanese Peace Treaty.

It is probable that number of ex-prisoners of wur and civilian internees who have incurred personal sufering or hardship as a result of captivity and are now permanent residents here is small, and that course you suggest is not (repeat not) likely to give rise to any great demand for similar scheme here.

2. I must nevertheless, point out, that principal suffering and hardship here fell on those who were not (repeat not) interned as civilians or as prisoners of war, but were imprisoned, tortured and executed on suspicion of helping U.K. cause. Your suggested scheme will certainly arouse demand these or their dependents, for participation and will revive old charge that those who were fortunate enough to be internal are receiving unduly favourable treatment e

The Japanese did not intern Chinese and the old cry of racial discrimination will almost certainly be raised again.

3. I greatly fear that proposed scheme will also revive a demand for ccmpensation for war damage. Those who were interned and many who were not (repeat not) interned lost al their personal property. My despatch No. 281 of 29th Novanter 1947 refers.

4. It occurs to me that course likely to give rise fewest repercussions would be to hand over proceeds te bonul war memorial fund committee with request to disperse to local residents not necessarily permanent whether interned or not. who suffered financially as a result of the occupation. would, in fact, be a local variant of the U.K. personal chattels Scheme but I should like time to consider further.

9

Meanwhile,

Tis

I would ask that the position as regards Hong Kong he left ope