CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919 — Page 382

Any reply to this letter should be addressed to

THE SECRETARY,

TREASURY,

WHITEHALL, LONDON, S.W. 1,

and the following number quoted.

TREASURY CHAMBERS.

15 April, 1919.

369

15422

19.

Gene

sir.

CO

23138

I have laid before the ras Commissioners of His

(REW 16 APR 9!

Majesty's Treasury your letter of the instant (18438/19) relative to the establishment in Hongkong of a branch of the Bank of China.

In reply I as to request you to infor: Viscount Milner that in general They adhere to the vice expressed ir Their Predecessors' letter of the 6th Octocer 1210 (24311/10). No general restrictions lave been imposed on foreign Banking business in the United Kingdom (except in the special case of choly bunks), and They think It would be undesirale to adopt a lifferent policy in the Crown Colonies, unless very special local reasons can lo adduced for the contrar, couree in any specific case. Unless therefore the Foreign Cerise regard 1 diplaasi- cally important to prevent the extension of a business of the Bank of China. They would not be disposed to recommend that any special actier shoul' be taken in the matter.

Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

J.L. *** L

S