§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, seeing that the British and Chinese Corporation were granted a preliminary agreement for the construction of the Canton-Kowloon Railway on the 28th March, 1898, will he state when the final agreement is expected to be concluded and the construction of the line proceeded with.
§ EARL PERCYThe preliminary Agreement for the construction of the Canton-Kowloon line was signed on the 28th March, 1898. We are informed by the British and Chinese Corporation that as soon as arrangements have been made for financing the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, negotiations for the conclusion of the final agreement for the construction of the Canton-Kowloon line will be proceeded with. The matter is receiving very careful attention.