TELEPHONE
LONDON WALL 1160.
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2440.
協中英
會華商
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53
RECEIVEL 'S?
7-OCT 1947
CHINA ASSOCIATION. C. O. REGY
31-37, BROAD STREET HOUSE,
Old Broad Street,
LONDON, E. C, 2.
6th October 1947
(51)
(35)
Dear Palmer,
Thanks for your letter of September 29th, from which
I note that the "date specified" will now probably be December 31st.
I am now able to answer the last part of your letter of September 5th. I have consulted my Committee, and they share my view that they see no reason why companies operating in China should not be required to deposit certain documents with the British Consulate responsible for the area in which their chief local office lies, and the list of documents you suggest would seem to be appropriate.
We think it would be advisable, however, before intro- ducing regulations, to consult the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and the General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, both of whom are, of course, closely concerned with matters of this kind.
As a matter of interest, when you refer to "China Com- panies" what precisely do you mean? We have assumed that you refer to British companies registered in Hong Kong, whose principal operations are in China, but it is possible that you mean companies registered under Chinese law which have a majority of British capital. In brief, our understanding is that the definition "China companies" has now really ceased to exist, with the elimina- tion of British companies having their registered office in Shanghai or elsewhere in China.
Yours sincerely,
H. Palmer Esq.,
Colonial Office,
The Church House,
Great Smith Street, S.W.1
Andchell