15
It was
Kong Companies wish to take advantage of this. clear, of course, that under the terms of the draft Order in Council proposed at (1) above it would not be necessary for such Companies to transfer to this country, but that it would be necessary for any such Companies wishing to transfer their registration to another part of the Empire, e.g. Australia or Singapore, to take up the question of registration in that part of the Empire with the local authorities concerned. The Board of Trade representative stated that they did not consider that it would be essential for registration in this country at any particular Company already have had a branch established here, but that it would be for the President of the Board of Trade to satisfy himself that such person or persons as approached him for registration held the necessary material interest in the Company to enable them to speak on its behalf.
sé
(3) That it would be desirable to arrange on the lines of statutory Rule and Order No. 1882 of 1941 to protect the property of any Companies registered in Hong Kong from being taken over by the custodian of enemy property.
(4)
Or should
The Orders in Council suggested above would be drafted in such terms as would permit of their application to Companies registered in other parts of the Empire for which it is possible to legislate by Order-in-Council, and not necessarily be restricted to .the Colony of Hong Kong. It is, however, not possible
to legislate in this manner for the Federated Malay States, and it was agreed that a separate telegram should be sent to the High Commissioner for the Malay States advising him of the difficulties experienced in the circumstances of Hong Kong, and suggesting that suitable legislation might be passed by the Federated Malay states Federal Council which will permit of the transfer from the Federated Malay States of the registered offices of any Federated Malay States Company.
Colonial office.
31st December, 1941.