19
to Sir John Brenan's proposals was largely based upon
the strong protest from the Straits Settlements on
behalf of the many Straits-born Chinese who would be
affected by any such revision of the China Order-in-
Council. As in fact we can now only assume that
Substanhal
the existence of any such, interests must be discounted,
suchy
we were left only with the question of the safe-
guarding of the position of existing Hong Kong China
other
companies and our British companies which are
At the
already operating in China under the safeguard of
registration under the Orders-in-Council.
Conference there appeared to be a considerable
difference of opinion between Sir John Pratt,
representing the Far Eastern Department at the
Foreign Office, and Mr. Beckett (who was concerned
with the legal issues involved). The Board of Trade
were also represented. The main issue which was
finally unravelled was whether there must continue
to be a distinction beteen the protection and the
registration of British companies (including China
companies and Hong Kong China companies). The
present difficulty mainly arises in cases in which
exercises his power.
the Ambassador koje dicepstion
approval of the Secretary of State,
.ng
Those
A
subject to the
of withdraw protection from British companies
uine
which he does not regard as containing general
thans British interests, but which, in spite of not having
the enjoyment of British protection in their
operations in China, nevertheless can claim the
extra-territorial privilege of the jurisdiction of
the British Courts, if they become involved in
litigation in China.
It was finally concluded that the Board
of