TNAG-0437-FCO40-502-Visits-of-UK-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 91

U z 43-46

43. Drawings of currency from Diplomatic Service Missions. Paragraphs 27-42 above give guidance about the method for securing foreign exchange abroad. With certain exceptions, the rule is that such currency should be obtained through normal banking channels. Departments should reduce to the minimum the occasions on which their staff have recourse to Diplomatic Service Missions for foreign exchange and application should only be made to Missions in the following circumstances:-

(a) for foreign exchange requirements in China, Spain, Turkey and Russia,

(b) in other countries where normal banking facilities are not available.

(c) in other cases of exceptional emergency or difficulty, c.g. for a conference required at short notice where it would be difficult for the Department to arrange banking facilities in time.

44. Any cases under (b) and (c) of paragraph 43 above where it is desired to secure facilitics from the Diplomatic Service should be discussed in the first place with the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office will not, of course, refuse any reasonable application where it can be shown that the use of banking channels would involve difficulty, delay or hardship, and the main object of this instruction is to secure that recourse to Diplomatic Service Missions is restricted to these cases so that the Mission may be in a position to deal with cases of need.

45. The Foreign Office cannot accept responsibility for the recovery of advances to individual officers under paragraphs 43 (a), (b) and (c). They will authorise advances only after application has been made to them by a Department for the provision of sums within a named limit, and the Foreign Office must be repaid on Demand the sum or advances within the limit of this authority. It will be for the Department concerned to ensure that the sums drawn by indi- viduals are within the limits prescribed by the Exchange Control regulations and can be recovered by deduction from salary.

COMPENSATION FOR LOST OR DAMAGED PERSONAL PROPERTY

46. When the personal property of an officer sent overseas on a short term-visit is lost or damaged during transit to or from this country or while he is in receipt of subsistence allow- ance (but not foreign service allowance) during his stay overseas, and the loss or damage is not covered by any existing insurance policy, the employing Department may, at its discretion, pay compensation up to a limit of £200, provided that not more than £25 is paid in respect of any one article. No compensation should be paid by Departments for losses of cash.

(65156) 188242 3,100 P.M.&S. 11/66 G3322