CO129-464 - Public Offices - 1920 — Page 564

PY

(F 1600/117/10)

No. 90 & 3 copies)

C

sir,

H.B.M. Consulate-General,

SHANGHAI.

23rd April, 1920.

552

On receipt of Mr. Lampson's despatch No. 58 (2056/20)

of the 25th March, I asked His Majesty's Crow

Advocate

and Mr. Fox for their views on the suggested Supplementary

Order in Council allowing China Companies under licence from

His Majesty'a Legation to secure exemption from the strict

enforcement of the terms of the Order of 1919.

Mr. Wilkinson has written the enclosed despatch supple-

menting his letter which formed enclosure No. 1 in my

despatch No. 60 (1426/20) of 17th. March. He agrees with me

that the Order does not preclude the employment of an alien

as manager of any particular business of a China Company pro- vided such employment does not amount to general or substantial

control of the Company's business.

Mr. Fox's memorandum enclosed herewith seems to overlook

the important fact that it is not the manager but the managing

director who must be British.

Each case will stand on its own merits; and it will be for a Court, if necessary, to decide whether the Order has been

complied with or not.

As regards the number of China Companies likely to apply

for for special licences, I do not think they would be many, nearly every company affected by the new Order has already

The only cases where objection complied with its provisions.

has/

BETLBY ALSTON, Esquire, C.B.,

80. &C**

80.

His Majesty's Minister.

FEKIN G.