HC Deb 28 March 1922 vol 152 cc1156-7W
Mr. MALONE

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of officers on full pay or half pay now in China; how many are employed by the Chinese Government; how many are paid by the Chinese Government; and how many have received permission for visiting China to qualify for interpreterships or other reasons of a temporary character?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

Including officers of the Indian Army there are 116 officers on full pay employed by the Army in China. This total consists mainly of the officers of the garrisons of Hong Kong and Tientsin but includes four officers who are qualifying for interpreterships, and the military attaché. One officer on half-pay is employed by the Shanghai municipal authorities as commandant of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps. No officers on full or half-pay are employed or paid by the Chinese Government.

Mr. MALONE

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of officers on full pay or half-pay now in China; how many are employed by the Chinese Government; how many are paid by the Chinese Government; and how many have received permission for visiting China to qualify for interpreterships or other reasons of a temporary character?

Captain GUEST

The only Air Force officer in China is one who is loaned to and wholly paid by the Chinese Government.

Mr. MALONE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of officers on full pay or half-pay now in China; how many are employed by the Chinese Government; how many are paid by the Chinese Government; and how many have received permission for visiting China to qualify for interpreter-ships or other reasons of a temporary character?

Mr. AMERY

Four naval officers are at present employed in China, none of whom is paid or employed by the Chinese Government. Two of these are in China for the purpose of studying the language, and the other two hold permanent posts at Shanghai. So far as the Admiralty are aware, no officers on half-pay are now in China, but one was granted permission to proceed to Hong Kong on private business last year.