Enclosure 2 in Shanghai despatch to Peking Number 51 of February 4th, 1936.
Mr. Laab.
Kinute by Crown Advocate.
10
I am returning attached the Consul-General's draft
despatch to H. E. the Ambassador written in connection
with the registration of The Overses-Chinese Banking
Corporation Ltd's Launch at Amoy.
As far as I can see, there is no comment which I can
usefully make in connection with this draft despatch and
I agree with the Consul-General
(1) That the Bank, being incorporated in singapore,
is entitled to have the launch registered under Section
1 (d) of the Merchant Shipping Act.
(2) That if the launch were to engage in the trans-
portation of the Bank's employees between Kulangau and
Amoy, it would, in my opinion, be used for purposes of
trade and would consequently require to receive the Consul's
certificate under Regulation 7 of The Amoy Consular
District General Regulations, 1913.
(3) That notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation 7
above referred to, by kegulation 1 of The China Forts
(Amendment) Regulations, 1928, the Secretary of State is
at liberty to direct that British protection shall not be
accorded to the launch and that a Consular certificate
under the Regulation should not be issued in relation
thereto.
In view of the fact that British protection has been
withdrawn from the Bank in China, I consider that His
Majesty's Secretary of State might well be asked to
exercise a discretion against the vessel under Regulation 1 of The China Forte (Amendment) Regulations, 1928.
Shanghai,
3rd February, 1936.
(d) Victor Priestwood
Crown Advocate.