CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 88

TY

^

(97966/15)

undesirable for political reasons to take any steps

64

which might disarrange the Chinese customs administration

Copies of the correspondence are enclosed.

F.O

34826

4.

This point is covered by the instructions referred

to in 3.

5. Reference is invited to the Colonial Office letter

OX

to the Foreign Office of July 12th (28314/15). The

Foreign Office are about to write to the Colonial Office

proposing to pass the China (Companies) Order in Council

as now drafted, and it is thought that this, coupled

with the new Trading with the Enemy Act, will be suf-

ficient to meet the difficulties arising from the fact

that these companies must be considered as technically

British.

6. This is covered by the Foreign office letter to the

Colonial Office of the 28thulting, and it is understood that

instructions have already been sent to Hong Kong on the

subject.

7.

So far as licences in Hong Kong may be necessary,

the