No. 573 (F 16211/4110/10)
RESTRICTED
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
16th December, 1947.
CHtc H.K (66)
18
(44)
sir,
Endl. to (33)
I am to refer to Your Excellency's despatch No. 224 (7844/722/47) of the 24th June, 1947, in which you transmitted the suggestion by His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai that business organisations in China claiming British status should be requested to deposit certain specific documents at His Majesty's Consulate in the area in which their chief local office is situated.
2. This suggestion has been considered in conjunction with Colonial Office, Board of Trade, Treasury, and the views of the China Association have been obtained.
As Your Excellency will have seen from Hong Kong telegram No. 1394 of the 27th August, that Government does not consider that it is feasible legally to discriminate between one British company registered in Hong Kong and another, notwithstanding the nationality of the directors and shareholders. With this view the Board of Trade and this Department agree.
4. If nevertheless Your Excellency considers that it would still serve a useful purpose to issue instructions to His Majesty's Consular Officers in China in the sense recommended by His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai in his despatch to you No. 298 of the 9th June, I would see no objection. The deposit of the documents in question would be on a purely voluntary basis, and it has therefore been agreed that no fees are leviable. Before issuing any instructions however you should await confirmation that the revised scheme meets with the concurrence of the Hong Kong Government.
5. I agree that, if the scheme is introduced, a central reference list of registered companies should be kept at His Majesty's Consulate-General at Shanghai.
I am, with great truth and respect,
sir,
Your Excellency's obedient Servant,
(For the Secretary of State)
s.d. P.W. Acadett
His Excellency
Sir Ralph Skrine Stevenson, K.C.M.G.,
etc., etc., etc.,
Nanking.