No.4
(and three copies)
Cry to Sub-Legation,
Hongkong,
Crown Advocate, Commercial
Counsellor No.1.
British Consulate-General,
Shanghai.
7th January, 1935.
Sir,
I have the honour to refer to my despatch No. 405 of
the 24th November last regarding the desire of the British
American Tobacco Company to omit the characters ying shang (British merchants) from the Chinese names of their newly
incorporated companies. It will be remembered that on my
advice the company consulted the British Chamber of Commerce
to see if they would support a request for an amendment of
the companies' ordinance on this subject.
2. I now have the honour to report that the question was considered by the Joint Committee of the Chamber of Commerce
and China Association on December 20th, when it was decided
not to support the request for the proposed amendment. The
following is an extract from the minutes of the meeting which
refers to this point:
"Companies Ordinance
Section 93.
Sub-Section 2. (Chinese names for
foreign firms.)"
After a short discussion it was decided not to take
further action for the time being, the opinion of the
Committee being that as it was on the suggestion of the
Shanghai Chamber that the ordinance was enacted making
it compulsory for British firms to use the characters
"ying shang" (
) to differentiate from the Chinese
designation
His Majesty's Minister,
British Legation,
PEKING.
67