[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
32
FROM CHINA
Telegram (en clair) from Sir M. Lampson (Peking).
No. 108.
D.
21st April 1931.
R.
21st April 1931.
137
My immediately preceding telegram.
156
All rights in immovable property held by British
subjects in China shall be recognized as valid and shall
remain undisturbed subject to the exercise of the right
of eminent domain by the Chinese Government.
The pro-
perty of British subjects in China shall not be expro-
priated, except for reasons of public interests, recog-
nised by the law as such, and only after adequate com-
pensation has been paid. The use of the property of
British subjects shall not be denied to them, even
temporarily, except in case of grave emergency for rea-
sons of public interest in return for adequate compen-
sation where such compensation is payable according to
general international practice.
In no case shall the
compensation be less than the compensation paid in
similar circumstances to Chinese citizens. Any dispute
regarding the amount of compensation to be paid shall
be determined by reference to the competent administra-
tive organ or the competent modern court of justice at
the option of the British subjects concerned in accord-
ance with Chinese law. Where such cases are brought
before modern courts of justice the provisions of
articles (blank) and (blank) covering the
hearings of cases in which British subjects are involved
as defendants will apply.
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 106,
repeated to Peking. Copy to Shanghai.