CO129-629-4 Commerce and Industry Department- supplies branch. Includes a statement of accounts for May 1946-March 1950-... 1-11-1951 - 31-1-1952 — Page 41

LOWE, BINGHAM & MATTHEWS, HONG KONG

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fer of the accrued surplus. No charge for interest was

made by the Treasury on advances, and no credit for in-

terest on credit balances was allowed to the Department,

it being explained to us that in accordance with normal

Government procedure the accrued surplus was required to

be paid to General Revenue and that this would have been

done annually had it been possible to complete the depart-

mental accounts earlier. Instructions were in fact given

requiring the transfer of the accrued surplus to the Trea-

sury, necessitating the debiting of the Suspense Accounts

with the sum of $67,762,076.25; so that there was a net debit balance on the Suspense Accounts of $62,505,775.00,

after this transfer had been made, representing the Trea-

sury's view of the amount of the outstanding advances to

the Department at 31st March, 1950.

CROWN AGENTS

A large proportion of this Department's purchases

has been handled by the Crown Agents on a commission basis,

this commission being included in the cost price of the

purchases. It is understood that Government has received

a lump sum rebate representing a fraction of the commis-

sions paid on all purchases by Crown Agents for Government.

In reply to our enquiry on this matter the Accountant Gen-

eral has stated.

"regarding the Head 10 - Miscellaneous Receipts,

Subhead Other Miscellaneous Receipt, I have

C

to inform you that the Secretary of State for

the Colonies apportions to each Colonial Govern-

ment their share in the Crown Agents surplus

income and it is quite impossible to say how

the amount is made up and to ascertain how

each Department contributes to the amount."