§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will 2083W say on whose opinion the expectation is based that the Kowloon Railway ever can, in addition to its working expenses, repay the principal or any interest on the money spent upon its construction?
§ Mr. FULLER (for Colonel Seely)The expectation is based on figures supplied by the Chief Resident Engineer.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether he is aware that the consulting engineer for the Kowloon Railway was appointed at the instance of the Crown Agents; that all correspondence between this engineer and the Government of. Hong Kong passes through the Crown Agents' hands, and their wishes prevail in all things; that the making of the railway, the ordering of material and equipment, the appointment of the staff, and the provision of money for these purposes, are in the hands of the Crown Agents, who exercise unlimited patronage, hold a lien on the railway and on the funds of the Colony, and are regarded as owners of the railway and employers of the staff; and whether the Colonial Office will fix any limit to the indefinite expenditure of money on this project?
§ Mr. FULLERThe answer to the first and third parts of the hon. Gentleman's question is in the negative. The correspondence between the consulting engineers and the Colony passes through the hands of the Crown Agents under flying seal. With regard to the last part, the expenditure will be limited to the amount required for the construction and equipment of the line.