[
JO
12
COPY
NO. 34/20.
Sir,
SHANGHAI,
554
21st April, 1920.
As suggested by Mr. Lampson, then H.M. Chargé d'Affaires
at Peking, in his despatch to you No. 58 of March 26th last,
you have further consulted me as to the advisability of complying
with the suggestion which had then been made by the British
American Tobacco Company (China) Limited that in view of the
difficulties, arising out of the nature of their business in China, which that Company would have in complying with the re- quirements of The China Companies (Amendment) Order in Council 1919 as to general and substantial British control of the Company, an amending Order in Council might be made giving H.M. Minister power to grant licences to British "China' Companies, in any
approved case, to retain the management of such a Company in
non-British hands.
The British American Tobacco Company (China) Ltd.,
have by their letters to you of the 6th, 9th and 14th instant, detailed, for your approval, a scheme for the transference of the real management and control of the Company, and its subsiduary China Companies, from Shanghai to Hongkong.
As Registrar of Companies, and after consultation with myself, you are prepared, in accordance with the pro- visions of Article 4(3) of the Hongkong Companies Ordinance 1915, to transfer the register of the Company to Hongkong.
Sir Everard Fraser, K.C.M.G.,
H.B.M. Consul-General and
Registrar of Companies,
SHANGHAI.
If/