§ 101. Sir J. Lucasasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he has considered the memorandum from the former ex-prisoners-of-war members of the Hong Kong Dockyard Defence Corps with reference to the payment of colonial allowance whilst prisoners of war, in accordance with his Department's telegram of 17th December, 1941; and what action he is taking in the matter.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsThe signal to which the hon. Member refers was issued when Hong Kong was under attack and when little information was available on the precise role in which members of the Dockyard Defence Corps were being employed. In consequence it was assumed that its members would still be treated as civilians for purposes of pay. Because of further information obtained after the defeat of Japan and of representations made on behalf of members of the Corps when they returned to this country, it was decided that they should be treated as serving soldiers for purposes of pay and non-effective benefits. This change in status necessarily excluded payment of civilian Colonial Allowance during the period of internment.