§ Major GASTRELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has been any recent correspondence be- 980W tween the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and the Foreign Office relating to the proposed loan by the six-Power group, and if such correspondence exists can it be published?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe correspondence respecting the loan negotiations is necessarily of a confidential character, and I am not in a position to publish it.
§ Major GASTRELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if the monopoly to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank as regards Chinese finances is still in existence; and, if so, whether it is to remain indefinitely?
§ Mr. ACLANDIf the hon. Member refers to the exclusive support given by His Majesty's Government to the British group, of which the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank is a member, pending the negotiation and issue of the Chinese Reorganisation Loan, the answer is that their exclusive support is given for this only; and will not be continued when once the whole loan has been successfully negotiated and issued.