on 31st March 1967 stood at 10,970, comprising 779 public com- panies (mostly companies limited by guarantee), and 10,191 private companies.
75. The number of documents received for filing and the number of inspections of files by the public rose to the new record figures of 30,224 documents received and 24,393 inspections made. These figures represent increases of about 8% and 17% respectively over the figures for 1965-66.
76. Although under no statutory obligation to do so, the Companies Registry sends reminders in respect of failures to file Annual Returns and other documents within the prescribed periods, and every year publishes advertisements calling attention to the statutory requirements. Notwithstanding these reminders twenty-nine companies failed to file documents, and were prosecuted in consequence. The fines imposed included fines of from $1,700 to $2,400 on two of the companies and a director. On the incorporation of every new company the Companies Registry supplies it with a pamphlet entitled 'Notes on certain provisions of the Companies Ordinance with special reference to documents which have to be filed in the Companies Registry'. A copy is also supplied free of charge to any company that asks for one.
77. 205 companies increased their nominal capital by amounts totalling $534,391,000, on which fees of $1,068,782 were paid.
78. 101 companies changed their names by special resolution and with the approval of the Governor given by the Registrar of Companies under delegated powers. One of the main reasons for such changes is that, as mentioned in paragraph 71, companies are incorporated by solicitors and others to be held in stock' for issue to clients when required. The clients then choose a name to their liking and have the old name changed. Similarly the names of real estate companies are often changed when control passes from one syndicate to another.
79. One licence to keep a branch Share Register was granted under Section 103 of the Ordinance.
80. 908 charges were registered by companies securing a total of $565,686,635, and 1,025 certificates of satisfaction were submitted in respect of charges totalling $249,592,152. There was therefore an increase of over $316m. in the amounts of charges subsisting. This does not mean that the amount actually owed by companies and
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