PART III
COMPANIES REGISTRY
Companies Registration
75. The Companies Ordinance is based on the Companies Act 1929 formerly in force in Great Britain but now replaced by the Companies Act 1948. Part I of Table XI lists the various Ordinances and sub- sidiary legislation now in force in the Colony relating to Companies.
76. The number of new companies incorporated in Hong Kong constituted a new record for the fifth successive year, the total advanc- ing by 1,436 over the previous year's record total to 5,389. Of the new companies incorporated, 5,219 (including two with unlimited liability) were private companies with a share capital, nine were public companies with a share capital, and 161 were public companies with liability limited by guarantee. Two private companies limited by guarantee and having a share capital were incorporated during the year bringing to three the number of these companies on the register.
77. Part I of Table XII gives an analysis of the 5,228 companies with a share capital according to the nature of their business (as described in the first paragraph of the objects clause in the memo- randum of association) and amount of nominal capital, with the aggregate amount given in the final column. As compared with 1971-72 the most noteworthy increases in the numbers according to business were financiers and capitalists 905 (+590), importers and exporters 1,388 (+405), land investment 1,045 (+362), engineering etc. 148 (+22) and travel agents 64 (+22). The businesses in which there were considerable reductions in numbers were wig manufacturers 3 (-18), transportation 70 (-16), plastics manufacturers 93 (-13), insurance 20 (-12), shipping 107 (-11), metals and hardware 43 (-11) and garment manufacturers 170 (-10).
78. Part II of Table XII gives an analysis of the 161 companies incorporated without a share capital according to the nature of their objects. As compared with 1971-72, increases in the numbers of com- panies according to the nature of their objects were recorded in respect of clubs 51 (+15), religious bodies 26 (+9), schools 15 (+6) and social welfare 18 (+5), but there were decreases in respect of building management 5 (-8), welfare of natives of particular districts in China 21 (-8) and trade protection 20 (-6). One more stock exchange was
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