CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 664

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COPY.

No. 3484/1915.

Sir,

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48086

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Colonial Secretary'■90fffce,

Hongkong, 15th. April, 1919.

I

With reference to our recent interview, I am

directed to request that you will be so good as to refer to the

Government of the Philippine Islands the question which have

arisen out of the claim by Messrs. Walter E. Olsen and Company

to have assigned to them certain trade marks registered in this

Colony in comection with the Orient Tobacco Manufactory.

2.

The Manufactory in Hongkong purports to be in the

sole omership of Mr. C. Ingenobl, who according to the informa-

-tion of this Government is a Belgian citizen of German origin

naturalised many years before the war. As Mr. Ingenohl is not an enemy subject the concern has not been wound up, but it has been run under the supervision of an officer specially appointed for the purpose, remittances to Mr. Ingenohl being prohibited. There are in the Hongkong register a number of trade marks which have apparently been used conjointly by the Hongkong Manufactory and by

El Oriente Fabrica de Tabacos, C. Ingenohl, Manila.

3.

It is understood that this latter concern has been

sold by the Government of the Philippine Islands to Messrs. Walter E.Olsen and Company, the consent of the Belgian Government, who have declared Mr. Ingenchl to be an enemy subject, having first

been obtained. If this is the case, this Government has no ob- -jection to the sale of the Hongkong Manufactory to the same Company at a suitable price; and I have to enquire accordingly whether they would consider this proposition.

4.

The trade marks are a most valuable asset, and it is obviously desirable that the two concerns should be run con- -jointly so that the marke may be used in common. But it must be understood that, if Mengra. Walter E. Olsen and Company are not

prepared

he Consul-General for the United States of America.