§ 40. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for War if he will now make a statement about the derequisitioning of the La Salle College, Hong Kong.
§ Mr. SoamesI am afraid I am not yet able to add to my previous Answers.
§ Mr. WallIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the twenty-seven years of its existence the college has been used as a school for only nine, that it has been requisitioned since 1949 and that in the Hong Kong Legislature several debates have taken place on the subject of derequisitioning? Cannot his Ministry decide now on what date they will hand it back as a school?
§ Mr. SoamesIt has already been announced that we are determined to hand this building back. We realise the importance of this college to the citizens of Hong Kong and we are anxious to hand it back as soon as possible. On the other hand, we have a considerable number of troops in Hong Kong and they must have hospital facilities, and until we can devise some other way of meeting the need for hospital facilities, I am afraid that it will not be possible to release this building. We are doing our best to give it up as soon as possible, and I will make a further statement as soon as I am able to do so.