[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
665
RECE
[September 10.
SECTION 2.
OCTOM
[35408]
No. 1.
Question asked in the House of Commons, September 16, 1909.
Mr. Ginnell,To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inform the House by what means it is suggested in any report in his possession that the Canton-Kowloon Railway, 126 miles long, can ever, in the absence of docks at Hong Kong, the construction of which would cost some millions sterling, successfully compete in goods traffic with the navigable river, 90 miles, which connects Canton with Hong Kong, and has cost nothing; whether His Majesty's Government intend to co-operate with the promoters of this railway which the Chinese will not use for goods, in forcing China to favour the railway at the expense of her waterways and of her taxpayers; whether the chief British accountant of this railway is now under arrest on a charge of embezzling large sums of Chinese money; and whether, for the sake of British prestige in China, he will institute a public sworn inquiry into the working of this railway project ab initio.
Answer.
I have no information which would enable me to answer these questions, and I see no reason why I should interfere.
[2413 g-2]