CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 434

5207/127/10).

547 (5860/23).

432

British Legation,

Peking.

October 2nd, 1923.

Ly Lord,

With reference to Your Lordship's telegram No. 158 of the 3rd instant, I have the honour to report that on receipt of Your Lordship's despatch No. 177 of March 20th last on the subject of the fees paid to the Hongkong Govern- ment by the British American Tobacco Company and subsidiary companies registered in Shanghai, I requested His Lajesty's Consul-General at Shanghai, who acta as Registrar of Companies to furnish me with his observations.

I have now received from Ir. Barton the report copy of

whi on I have the honour to enclose.

Your Lordship will note that while Mr. Barton comiders that the Hongkong Government have some justification for claiming the annual fee from the Company he is of opinion that the transfer fees as at present levied are unreasonably heavy in the case of private companies and he supports

the contention of the company that they should not be called

upon to pay fees twice over in respect to shares held by them in their subsidiary companies.

The Governor of Hongkong addressed me on the subject

of these fees and also certain suggested modifications in the

new consolidating Order in Council in arch last and I an

accordingly forwarding to him a copy of r. Barton's

despatch for his information.

I have the honour to enclose

copy of Sir Reginald Stubbs' despatch and of my reply thereto

for convenience of reference.

I have,

etc..

(Sgd.) Ronald lacleay.

Larquess Curzon of Kedleston,

K.G., G.C.S.I., 0.0.1.3.,

etc.,

etc.,

etc..

Foreign office.