CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 277

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registered in Hong Kong under the Hong Kong Companies.

Ordinance and has its registered Office there although

its business is conducted and all its Registers are kept

in Shanghai. Upon the Hong Kong Grant being sent to

the Company in Shanghai for registration in respect of

the Shares in question, the Company refused to recog-

nise it having been advised by its Solicitors there

that representation must be taken out in Shanghai which

of course involve the payment of duty over again.

Our Agents at Hong Kong are strongly of opinion

that the shares are within the Hong Kong jurisdiction

and that the Grant should be recognised by the Company

in Shanghai for registration purposes.

The amount of duty already paid in Hong Kong in

respect of these shares is, we believe, upwards of £100

and if the Gas Company's contention were acceded to,

it would mean the payment of a second amount of duty

in Shanghai.

It will be seen that the actual point at issue

is between the Revenue Authorities in Hong Kong and

Shanghai respectively and altogether apart from prece-

precedent it seems to us to be a suitable matter for

enquiry by the Foreign Office department.

We shall therefore be glad if you would cause

enquiry to be made in Shanghai as to whether the

Administrator can have relief from the payment of

death duty on the said Shares twice over.

We are, &c.,

(Signed)

King, Wigg and Company.

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