§ 14. Mr. LOOKERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House of the nature of the administration of the ex-Russian concession at Hankow dining the last few years; whether it is similar to the administration proposed regarding the British concession there; and whether it has worked to the satisfaction of the foreign interests concerned?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe regulations for the ex-Russian concession at Hankow provide for a municipal council consisting of a chairman nominated by the Civil Governor, three elected foreign, and three elected Chinese members. They also provide for the discussion of the annual balance sheet and budget by the general meeting of ratepayers, and for the submission of new by-laws to the general meeting of ratepayers for approval. In its general character this administration is similar to that agreed upon for the British Concession.
In his despatch forwarding the Report of the working of this administration for the year 1925, His Majesty's Minister says that it "has proved highly satisfactory," and His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow remarks in the same connection that "the future can be looked forward to with confidence."