§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement as to the political, financial and economic situation at Hong Kong?
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§ Mr. George HallWhile the evacuation of women and children and other measures taken in Hong Kong have caused some feeling of disturbance, the population of the colony is in excellent heart. Trade statistics and revenue figures according to the latest information are buoyant, although there are at present some difficulties in finding cargo space for shipment of the colony's miscellaneous exports. The Government has also improved the position of its liquid reserves by a recent flotation of the balance of a loan authorised in 1934. The cost of living still shows an upward trend caused by circumstances beyond our control and in particular by the uncertainty of the situation in neighbouring territories.