§ 12. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for War what expenditure has been made or incurred to date for accommodation, quarters, rent, etc., for the Shanghai Defence Force; and what financial or other assistance has been received to date from the inhabitants of the international settlement towards the expenses of the expedition?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)Approximately £950,000 has been expended on accommodation, quarters and rent, etc., at Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tientsin and Wei-Hai-Wei. As regards the second part of the question, the Shanghai Municipal Council have exempted from municipal taxation all lands and buildings occupied by the Defence Force, and have allowed unoccupied land and buildings which they own to be utilised rent free. In addition, they pay the extra cost of small parties of troops specially detailed to assist in the maintenance of internal order when necessary within the international settlement.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDo I understand that this is the only contribution made by the international settlement? Do they only pay for the troops who are actually on police duty?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSYes, Sir.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCould the right hon. Gentleman, at his convenience, let me have the separate figures for Shanghai? I am interested in asking about Shanghai, but not about Tientsin or Hong Kong.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI will see whether I can separate the Shanghai figures.