§ MR. REESTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government of China has authorised the second issue of bonds or provided funds for the construction of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway according to the agreement concluded in 1903: and whether the concession for the Su-chau, Hang-chau, Ning-po Railway once granted, and subsequently cancelled, has or has not been finally confirmed so as to provide a junction with the railway the Government of Hong Kong is constructing to the Kau-lung frontier.
(Answered by Sir Edward Grey.) The Chinese Government have not yet authorised the issue of bonds, nor have they themselves provided funds for the completion of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway. We have, however, received repeated assurances from them that funds will be provided in one or other of these ways in time to prevent suspension of work on the railway, and His Majesty's Government are following the matter with attention. The negotiations for the final agreement for the Suchau-Hangchau-Ningpo Railway have been deferred until the conclusion of the 864 negotiations in regard to the final agreement for the Canton-Kowloon Railway, which are now proceeding.