No. 380(17316/H7/47)
& 2 copies
48
BRITISH CONSULATE-GENERAL,
SHANGHAI,
July 30th 1947.
AUG 347
Endl. to (33)
sir,
C.
| C, O. REGY
With reference to your despatch No.297 (F7325/4110/10) of July 1st 1947 and to the despatch addressed to you by H.M. Ambassador at Nanking No. 224 of June 24th 1947 concerning the final date for the registration of China companies at Ho Kung, I have the honour to report that the views of the committee of the British Chamber of Commerce at Shanghai have been sought on whether there are any practical objections to the date for registration being now specified by the Secretary of State. The committee states that so far as it can see there are no objections. A local British lawyer, who has assisted many China companies in transferring their registration to Hong Kong, also sees no objection.
2.
With reference to paragraph 2 of your despatch, I have now received copies of legislation by the Government of Hong Kong enabling China companies which transferred their registration to the United Kingdom or other British territory to transfer their registration back to Hong Kong. It is cited as the "Law Amendment (Transitional Provisions) Schedule 1 Amendment Order 1947" and "Amendment (No.2) Order 1947".
3.
As stated in my despatch which forms the enclosure to H.K. Ambassador's despatch No.224 referred to above I can see no good reason why the date for registration at Hong Kong should be further delayed. It is, I think, desirable that the rather indefinite status of "China" companies which have still failed to register at Hong Kong should be legally determined by article 4(3) of the China Order in Council 1943, and I have the honour therefore to recommend that a date be now specified by the Secretary of state.
I have the honour to be,
With the highest respect,
sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
(sd) A.G.N. OGDEN
His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Office,
London.
Consul-General.
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