§ 28. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for War the number of British troops that will be in China, attached to the North and South China commands, at the end of the present trooping season; and can he state the number of troops at present in the Shanghai Defence Force?
§ Mr. SHAWSeparate commands in North and South China do not now exist, and the Shanghai Defence Force has been merged into a unified China Command whose headquarters are at Hong Kong. The China Command is at present divided into three areas and with my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the division of the troops in China among these areas.
§ Mr. DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any foreign troops were incorporated in the Shanghai Defence Force?
§ Following is the table:
§ troops in the China Command in 1930 is estimated to be approximately £1,300,000. As regards the remainder of the question, there is one Indian Infantry battalion in the China Command stationed at Hong Kong. An Indian battalion has formed part of the normal garrison for, many years. Its whole cost is borne by Army funds, and is included in the above figure.
1077§ Mr. DAYCould the right hon. Gentle- man say whether it is intended to reduce this large number in the future?
§ Mr. MUGGERIDGEIs any part of the cost of maintaining the Army in China borne by the people of Shanghai by way of Income Tax, or in any other way?