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!
to shut down on such dodges; but it strikes me that,
without a King's Regulation or an Order in Council,
consuls pursuing this policy might find themselves
cast in heavy damages. On the other hand we have
proof that Rayner at least if not also Arnhold, of
Arnhold Karberg and Company, is to serve as a channel
for safe communication with Germany.
Arnhold says he has consulted the Board of Trade
and been told he need not advertise that he and his
brother are now a British firm, war having ended their
former partnership with two Germans, one at Hong Kong
and the other in Hamburg. In China the firm goes on
so far as the public see just as before as to Chinese
hong name, premises, staff, trade-marks. I had bidden
him start new books and become a Hong Kong Limited
Company notifying that the old firm's affairs were in
liquidation.
Our Company Law seems never to have contemplated
a state of war. If the China Companies Order in Council
is not quite shelved, don't you think we might add a
clause that no alien enemy can be director or officer, in
C
such a company? We want that Order and the enforcement
of the general registration of companies more than ever
just now.
We discovered in Hong Kong an ex-German ship owned
by a limited company of Chinese with an absent German
as managing director, flying our flag and trading with
the German's branch firm in Kiungchow! But the Colony
does not see its way to intervene.
This means similar
"British" Companies can buy German prizes and ships
refuging in neutral ports.
such
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