CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 379

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question that a Company promoted by Chinese Subjects,

and carrying on business in China with Chinese capi-

tal, should be granted British protection by reason

of the mere fact of its having been registered in a

British Colony.

In 1895, the present Law Officers of the Crown,

in a report of which a copy is enclosed, advised

that the principle ought not to be recognised that

foreigners by registering themselves in this coun-

try as a Limited Company are entitled to claim from

Her Majesty's Goverment the protection afforded to

British Subjects in foreign countries.

They were further of opinion that in each case

the nature of the business which is being in fact

carried on by the Company must be looked at, and

that no hard and fast line could be laid down as to

the amount of interest which would entitle a Company

to British protection.

Lord Salisbury has accordingly authorised Sir C.

MacDonald

MacDonald to instruct Mr. Consul Mansfield that before

according protection to any Company registered in

Hongkong, he should satisfy himself that a majority

of the shareholders as well as of the Managing Board

of Directors are British Subjects, and that the great-

er part of the Capital employed in the business is

also British.

I am,

sir,

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

Martin Gopelice