§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Hankow Agreement is involving heavy financial losses on British nationals; that, contrary to the announcement made, the management of the Concession is virtually passing into the hands of the Chinese, and that values have fallen very considerably; and what steps he proposes to take to restore confidence?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI understand that there has been a considerable fall in land values and in the quotations for municipal bonds and debentures. This must be attributed mainly to the uncertainty of the political situation in China, and it is hoped that the Hankow Agreement so far from contributing to the losses will prove the first step in a gradual restoration of confidence. The full text of the new regulations for the British Concession at Hankow has not yet been received, but I understand that the Concession will be administered by a Sino-British Council.