CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 380

Copy.

No.144.

My Lord:-

མ་

PEKING,

& 7 wuf 8

13th July 1898.

I have the honour to enclose copies of

despatches received from Her Majesty's Consul at Can-

ton and the Crown Advocate, with reference to the sta-

tus of British Companies registered in Hongkong,

though promoted by Chinese Subjects.

I have instructed Mr. Mansfield that his

action in regard to such companies should be guided

by the principles laid down in the Crown Advocate's

opinion, but that he should at the same time keep me

informed of particular cases in which a strict adher-

ence to the law appears to be prejudicial to British

interests.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) Claude M. MacDonald.

The Marquess of Salisbury, K.G.,

&C.,

&C.,

&c.,