CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 387

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give much trouble, though in some ways it might ad-

vance trade.

But the possibility of every firm in Canton being

made nominally British with an obligation on the Con-

sul's part to protect the employés "in the conduct of

such business" (as laid down by the Crown Advocate)

is a possibility which cannot be contemplated without

very considerable misgiving and alarm.

In all questions of affording protection, the

Consul has a wide discretion to assist him in the

exercise of this protection. I have the honour to

request that I may be empowered to instruct him to de-

mand from a Company proof either that the majority of

their shareholders, or a majority of the capital,

or both, was British; the certificate of the Colonial

Authorities to be the proof. This would not quite

meet the difficulty, because the Chinese can easily

get British subjects put on the register, supplying

them with the necessary funds; but this, I am afraid,

cannot well be helped.

Where either or both of these conditions cannot

be