[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
6531
[September 15.]
SECTION 3.
[34917]
No. 1.
Question asked in the House of Commons, September 15, 1909.
Mr. Ginnell,--To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the total amount of loss sustained by the Chinese Government on the Shanghae-Nanking Railway since its opening for traffic; whether this has been paid out of taxes imposed upon the Chinese people; whether the control of the administration and working is still retained in British hands; and if he will state the grounds upon which His Majesty's Government assist in imposing this burden upon China.
Answered by Mr. McKinnon Wood (for Sir Edward Grey).
I am unable to state the amount of loss, if any, sustained by the Chinese Govern- ment on this railway since its opening for traffic in March 1908. The system of control established by the loan agreement in the form of a Board of Commissioners (Chinese and British) was suspended shortly afterwards by mutual consent, and its powers were delegated to its Chinese chairman. He, as managing director, was henceforth responsible for the working of the railway. The suggestion contained in the last sentence of the question has no justification.
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