§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, seeing that the Comptroller and Auditor General had not been furnished with the Hong Kong Naval Yard Expense Account for the year 1900–01 by 18th February 1902, the date of his Report, will he state the cause of his delay in sending forward this Account; and will steps be taken to ensure this Account being rendered punctually in future.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe delay in the preparation of the Annual Accounts for the Hong Kong Naval Yard for 1900–01 was owing to the exceptional pressure of work at the Yard consequent on the disturbed state of affairs in China. Steps have been taken to strengthen the clerical staff at Hong Kong, and it is not anticipated that the preparation of the Accounts will be again delayed.