CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12] — Page 237

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Who was afraid that Companies might subdivide their shares into infinitesimal parts, when the small shares might get into the hands of people & become instruments of gambling?

The Company then asked the Governor in Council for a special law to empower them to reduce their shares from £50 to £16 2/3. That is to subdivide each share into three of £33 - each. They have sought relief by a private Bill, but the Standing Orders have no provision for such measures. The Bill was introduced & carried, the Attorney General voting for it; but the Official Members - who are all Directors of a rival Insurance Company - entered a lengthy protest against this special legislation in favour of one Company only; and suggested that the Company might obtain the same by winding up & reconstituting themselves.

Lord Carnarvon accepted the protest & considered it a special case, not a general measure, such as had been previously brought forward. Sir John Smale opposed it on the same grounds as before in 1876. The Unofficial Members deemed that the question had already been thrown out on its merits and should not be brought in again.

The Chairman of the Insurance Company gives his reasons in a letter to the Governor, stating why they do not endeavour to wind up & reconstitute themselves.

The former asks for further instructions. The simplest course would be to sanction the Special Act. The more natural means to draft the General Law through the Council; but Sir John Smale will absent himself, the Unofficial Members will oppose it, & it will probably not be carried except by the casting vote of the Governor.

Could we not adhere to the former instruction to pass this general Ordinance, but in deference to her Majesty's Instructions, which seem to me to be weighty, mark it in the part relating to the reduction of shares, that they shall not be reducible to a lower amount than a high minimum, say £50 or some other fixed figure in proportion?

4th Jan 1885 - May not, under the HK Companies Ordinance, a Company be formed with £1 shares? and if so, what is the value of the Attorney General's objection at the danger of encouraging gambling?

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Who was afraid that Companies might subdivide their shares into infinitesimal parts, when the small shares might get into the hands of people & become instruments of gambling? The Company then asked the Governor in Council for a special law to empower them to reduce their shares from £50 to £16 2/3. That is to subdivide each share into three of £33 - each. They have sought relief by a private Bill, but the Standing Orders have no provision for such measures. The Bill was introduced & carried, the Attorney General voting for it; but the Official Members - who are all Directors of a rival Insurance Company - entered a lengthy protest against this special legislation in favour of one Company only; and suggested that the Company might obtain the same by winding up & reconstituting themselves. Lord Carnarvon accepted the protest & considered it a special case, not a general measure, such as had been previously brought forward. Sir John Smale opposed it on the same grounds as before in 1876. The Unofficial Members deemed that the question had already been thrown out on its merits and should not be brought in again. The Chairman of the Insurance Company gives his reasons in a letter to the Governor, stating why they do not endeavour to wind up & reconstitute themselves. The former asks for further instructions. The simplest course would be to sanction the Special Act. The more natural means to draft the General Law through the Council; but Sir John Smale will absent himself, the Unofficial Members will oppose it, & it will probably not be carried except by the casting vote of the Governor. Could we not adhere to the former instruction to pass this general Ordinance, but in deference to her Majesty's Instructions, which seem to me to be weighty, mark it in the part relating to the reduction of shares, that they shall not be reducible to a lower amount than a high minimum, say £50 or some other fixed figure in proportion? 4th Jan 1885 - May not, under the HK Companies Ordinance, a Company be formed with £1 shares? and if so, what is the value of the Attorney General's objection at the danger of encouraging gambling? Page 234 15:16/1 ... Output is formatted in HTML as per the instructions, with tags used for paragraphs. The original text has been proofread according to the given rules, correcting spelling errors, fixing spacing issues, rejoining broken sentences, and restoring paragraph breaks while preserving the original content and structure as much as possible.
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who was afraid that Companies might subdivide then shares into infiniterional parts, when the small shares might get into the hands of Encle people & become insplements of gambling- combie The Company then asked the Javerun Bintioshen a speint law Theme $5000 Empowering then Bredner their chares from of 500 to of 1666. That is to saldeid earl thann of. Flor into there of £333 - each. They have sought the Whef by a private Bill, but the Standing onlus have no provision for such measures. The Bill was introduced & carried, the (. J. voting for it; but the theficial Membus - who an all Dimiter མི་ a tival Insuramen Company - entired a lengthy protest against this week Company only; and - tunal legislation in farms of me Suppestil til that the Company might obtain the sam by winding up & neconstituting Themsidorn Lord Carmanon accepted the protest & Which love xx lava divstid the hover Dictioden & Genual measure, such as Mick been previously theon went, Sind. Denned dildo, but has with crown the Bill in consequence of Sir J. Small, opposition= in the dame grounde as defan: in 126. The unofficial Membus deem thour The sheasam had already been thrown och on itsenit pon his written, Then for should not be Ins pouse again. argued that The Chairman of the thine hrades Company gives his reasons in a letter to the fovenia, Shy they do not endeavo twind af of a reconstitute the To: d the Wasins Leemi The former asks further instuctions _ The simplest course would be to sanction the Ropecial Ach: The more natural men to dison the Gorma & Carry the Senerne Lars Through the Concile; but dir one- 234 Iis John Smale will absent himself, the nofficial memous will oppose it, & it will Inotably be carrive only by the casting woto, The Governor. The Braunston 15:16/1 Could not we former instruction adhere to the to pay this general Ornance, but in deference to her) Incale= of of bond Medioms, which seem to me to be weight descre that it be marted, in 7 the to part relating of the reduction shares that they shall and be re- ducible to a lower anconot theaw Fayy 650 (theat a high minimumg some the pied figure in proportion? Rewer 4th Jan 17 theay not, ander the HK Comfame, Oden Company be formed 1885 with. #1 shares? and if & Maties the value of the C.)'s objection at the ? danger of encouraging Gambling Regoth
2026-05-21 11:21:21 · Baseline
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who was afraid that Companies might subdivide then shares into infiniterional parts, when the small shares might get into the hands of Encle people & become insplements of gambling-

combie

The Company then asked the Javerun Bintioshen a speint law Theme $5000

Empowering then Bredner their chares from of 500 to of 1666. That is to saldeid earl thann of. Flor into there of £333 - each. They have sought the Whef by a private Bill, but the Standing onlus have no provision for such measures. The Bill was introduced & carried, the (. J. voting for it; but the theficial Membus - who an all Dimiter

མི་

a tival Insuramen

Company - entired a lengthy protest against this week

Company only; and

- tunal legislation in farms of me Suppestil

til that the Company might obtain the sam by winding up & neconstituting Themsidorn

Lord Carmanon accepted the protest &

Which

love xx lava

divstid the

hover Dictioden & Genual measure, such as Mick been previously theon went, Sind. Denned dildo, but has with crown the Bill in consequence of Sir J. Small, opposition= in the dame grounde as defan: in 126. The unofficial Membus deem thour The sheasam had already been thrown och on itsenit

pon his written,

Then for should not be Ins pouse again.

argued that

The Chairman of the thine hrades Company gives his reasons in a letter to the fovenia, Shy they do not endeavo twind af

of a reconstitute the To:

d the

Wasins Leemi

The former asks further instuctions _

The simplest course would be to sanction the Ropecial Ach: The more natural men to dison the Gorma & Carry the Senerne Lars Through the Concile; but dir

one-

234

Iis John Smale will absent himself, the

nofficial memous will oppose it, & it will Inotably be carrive only by the casting woto, The Governor.

The Braunston

15:16/1

Could not we

former instruction

adhere to the

to pay this general

Ornance, but in deference to her) Incale=

of

of bond

Medioms, which seem to me to be weight descre that it be marted, in

7

the

to part relating of the reduction shares that they shall and be re- ducible to a lower anconot theaw

Fayy

650 (theat

a high minimumg

some the pied figure in proportion?

Rewer

4th Jan 17

theay not, ander the HK Comfame, Oden

Company

be formed

1885

with.

#1 shares? and if & Maties the

value of

the C.)'s objection at the

? danger of encouraging Gambling Regoth

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