§ 77. Mr. Rees-Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements he is making for the submission of claims by British subjects to the Alien Property Liquidation Department of the Central Trust of China, for property lost or destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai.
§ Mr. MayhewHis Majesty's Ambassador at Nanking has reported that the Alien Property Liquidation Department of the Central Trust of China addressed communications to His Majesty's Consuls-General at Shanghai and Hankow stating that it had been decided, upon the proposal of the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs, to set 30th June, 1947, as the time-limit for Allied companies and individuals to submit documentary evidence of their claims to property which was under Japanese or puppet control during the war, and that after that date no further claims would be admitted, the properties in question being disposed of as enemy-owned. His Majesty's Ambassador thereupon addressed to the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs a note, dated 24th June, in which he formally reserved the rights of British property owners who for any reason might be unable to submit before 30th June documentary evidence of their claims to property which was8W under Japanese or puppet control during the war.
As regards war damage losses sustained by British subjects in China, arrangements have been made for the collection of information by a war damage officer who was appointed and sent out to China early in May with instructions to collect and collate data regarding losses and personal injury suffered by British subjects in China as a result of action of the Japanese forces during the occupation by them of parts of China (including Shanghai) while Japan was at war with His Majesty. This work is now in progress.