§ SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)I beg to ask the Postmaster General, whether he can instruct the Government of Hong Kong to make it publicly known that landing rights will forthwith be granted to any individual or company seeking for them in Hong Kong and its dependencies, under reasonable conditions, for purposes of laying cables.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E.)The Question should have been addressed to the Colonial Office. In the absence of my right hon. friend I will read his answer:—"The instruction suggested by the hon. Member cannot be given to the Governor of Hong Kong, in view of the terms of an agreement made in 1893 with the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company. The full text of the article of the agreement which gives a preferential right to the Company was given by me in answer to a Question in the House on the 8th May, 1899,† to which I would refer the hon. Member."