[Lazarus] Help with AllocateHwnd in Lazarus 0.9.30 on WindowsXP

[Curt Carpenter]

I have a non-visual component that uses AllocateHwnd and 
DeAllocateHwnd.  My component compiles, but
gives me a 'RunError(217)' when I try to use it in a test program .   
The error is occurs at the AllocateHwnd instruction in my component's
constructor, where the exact usage is:

              if not (csDesigning in ComponentState) then FNotifyWnd := 
AllocateHWnd(@TimerWndProc);

TimerWndProc is declared in the protected section of my component code.

Can anyone tell me if AllocateHwnd is implemented in my version of 
Lazarus, and where I may be going wrong in
my usage?  I'm stumped.   I see that it was discussed quite a bit in 
2007, but not sure of the current status.

Any input appreciated.

PS:  if I try

        if not (csDesigning in ComponentState) then FNotifyWnd := 
AllocateHWnd(TimerWndProc);

the component won't compile.   But I've seen this usage at various 
places too.