followed by the United Kingdom with 99, Japan 82, Panama 79, Australia 43, Singapore 38, Switzerland 27, China 24, Canada 21, and Malaysia 20.
91. Table XVII gives an analysis of the 781 companies to which the preceding paragraph refers according to the nature of their business. This shows that the total includes 163 import and export companies, 84 insurance companies, 55 shipping, etc. companies, 48 banks, 46 carriers (air and land), 40 engineering, etc. companies, 39 land and building companies, and 39 religious bodies.
Liquidations in Progress
92. At the end of the year 438 companies were in the course of being wound up as follows:
Liquidations begun prior to 1.4.71
Liquidations begun during 1971-72
By Members' Voluntary Winding-up By Creditors' Voluntary Winding-up By Winding-up by the Court
***
...
146
139
9
3
112
29
267
171
Appointment of Inspectors
93. The Companies Ordinance provides that the Financial Secre- tary may in certain circumstances, e.g. upon application by a specified number or proportion of the members of a company, appoint one or more competent inspectors to investigate the affairs of the company and to report thereon in such manner as the Financial Secretary may direct. In Great Britain such authority is vested in the Board of Trade. Since such provisions were first included in the Companies Ordinance in 1963, two requests for appointment of an inspector have been received, one in respect of a company limited by shares and the other in respect of a company limited by guarantee.
94. The Companies Ordinance also provides that the Financial Secretary may appoint one or more competent inspectors to investi- gate the affairs of a company where it appears to him that the business of a company is being conducted inter alia for a fraudulent or unlaw- ful purpose, or that persons concerned with its formation or the management of its affairs have in connection therewith been guilty of fraud, misfeasance or other misconduct towards it or its members,
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