§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the number of persons killed in the autumn of last year through the collapse of a house in Cochrane Street, Hong Kong, the cause of the collapse, the name of the owner of the house, the names of the builder and architect; and whether any compensation has been paid to the widows, orphans, or dependents of the persons killed.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINForty-three persons lost their lives through the accident in question, which was largely due to defects of construction. The owner and the builder of the houses were Chinamen, and their names have not been reported. The architect of the recent structural alterations was a Mr. Hazeland. I am not aware whether or not any compensation has been given to the families or dependents of the deceased.