CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 443

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I have dealt with all the points which have

occurred to me, including those I have referred to,

in notes which I have made as the draft Order, and

which I have the honour to send herewith.

A bill will be prepared at once for amending the

Companies Ordinance as required, and a copy will be

Bent to me for my observations.

The question of the appointment of the deputy

registrar in Shanghai, I discussed with Sir H. May

as well as with the Chief Justice. I gathered from

the latter, that Mr. Secretary Harcourt and yourself

were inclined to think that the smooth working of the

scheme would be best secured by the appointment of

an officer in the permanent service of the Colony

of Hongkong to the port. I hope and believe that

from whatever service such officer may be drawn, there

will be no friction between the British authorities

in Hongkong and Shanghai, I can see no reason why

there should be, and in this view, I think, Sir H.

May and Sir W. Rees Davies concur. I found, however,

that there was a feeling, at all events amongst those

responsible for the administration of the Colony, that