§ 39. Mr. Goughasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the subject of the British pensioners of the Shanghai Waterworks Company; and what action he proposes to take to obtain redress for these pensioners, some of whom are now destitute as a result of the withholding of their pension fund by the Chinese Government.
§ Mr. NuttingI am informed that there are 24 such pensioners whose pensions range between £100 and £500 per annum and that no payments have been received by them since the end of 1949 because of the failure of the Chinese authorities to make available foreign exchange, although the Shanghai Waterworks Company are willing to pay the pensions.
The managing director of the Waterworks Company has repeatedly appealed to the Chinese authorities for exchange facilities without avail. Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Peking has recently made official representations to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No reply has yet been received.