§ Mr. GINNELLasked who were the consulting engineers of the Canton-Kowloon Railway; whether they acted in that capacity in connection with the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, the Hong Kong Railway, and the Johore Railway, all lines that could never pay owing to the cost of construction; whether the late chief British accountant was the nominee of those engineers; whether the amount of his embezzlements had yet been ascertained; and whether any steps were being taken to recover that amount from his nominators?
§ Colonel SEELYThe consulting engineers are Sir J. Wolfe Barry and Partners. The consulting engineers for the Johore Railway are Messrs. Gregory, Eyles and Waring. I have no information as to the Shanghai-Nanking Railway. I cannot accept the statement that either the Hong Kong or the Johore Railway can never pay. As I informed the hon. Gentleman on 25th November, the Colonial Office is not concerned with the doings of the late chief accountant on the Chinese section of the line.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked whether His Majesty's Government was in possession of independent evidence that the Canton-Kowloon Railway could never possibly pay its cost of construction and working expenses; that it was being forced through merely for the resuscitation of Hong Kong at the expense of the Chinese guarantors; and that it had already cost £16,000 per mile; and whether in these circumstances, a further loan for its completion would have the approval of the Colonial Office?
§ Colonel SEELYThe answer to the first two parts of the hon. Gentleman's question is in the negative. I have not the exact figures as to the cost of the line to date, and no question of a further loan for its completion has arisen.