CO129-285 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [9-10] — Page 27

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

*****

མམཏ

1, asado, 1.

a1.98"

24

capital of forty thousand dollars ($40,000), and I am informed

that a "Canton Land Investment Company* will be the next

venture.

All these companies have their business in

this port and to the best of my belief, though a few foreign

names may have been used in the application for registration,

the capital is all Chinese. If protection is given them by

this office, it appears certain that in process of time many

similar businesses will be registered, and we shall find our-

selves called upon to support numbers of doubtful Chinese

cases to the great detriment of our present standing with the

Chinese Authorities.

The matter appeared to me of so much importance

that I applied to Her Majesty's Minister for instructions, and

his reply was that I must be guided by the following opinion

of the Crown Advocate

#

-

The Hong-Kong Ordinances having followed the

Imperial Acts in this matter,Her Majesty's Consuls cannot do otherwise than protect British Companies, as such, whatever may

be the nationality of the individual directors, managers or

shareholders."

With all due deference to this opinion, I must

confess that I cannot agree with it.

Consuls are established in China under Treaty

and in their dealings with the Chinese Authorities must be guided primarily by the Treaties. The Treaties provide for

Consular

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.