54196/47
Dear Fleming,
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
S.W.1.
16th April, 1947.
129
1. With reference to your letter of 3rd April 1947 (2143/47) I propose to telegraph to Hong Kong asking for the required information and a copy of the telegram will be coming to you separately. In this connection I enclose a copy of a despatch (with enclosures) dated 27.11.46 from Hong Kong dealing with the subject of companies registration.
I fear that we have not yet answered the despatch owing to pressure of work, illness, etc., but you would doubtless wish to see it in advance of any comments we may wish to make after we have completed our examination of the despatch. There appear to be several points in it upon which we shall have to ask for the advice of the Board of Trade. It is clear however that the Governor would prefer to defer any general revision of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance until he has clarified certain difficulties relating to China Companies.
2.
The Military Proclamation No.27 (No.13, Vol.2), a copy of which was enclosed in Mayle's letter of 26th April 1946, provided for the registration in Hong Kong of China Companies which had not transferred their registration to any part of the British Empire. By the addition of Article 4A which the Governor proposed to add to the Proclamation (vide paragraph 16 of his despatch), such a Company need not maintain a registered office in Hong Kong. See in this connection Shanghai telegram No.228 of 26.3.46 (a copy of which Foreign Office sent to you
A.R.C. FLEMING, ESQ.
under