CO129-520-7 Public Utility companies- acquisition by foreign groups 4-12-1929 - 26-1-1930 — Page 19

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In the case of Hong Kong two existing

companies are concerned, namely the Hong Kong

Electric Company Limited and the China Light

and Power Company Limited, operating in the

island of Hong Kong and on the mainland

respectively.

Concerning these Companies

Sir G. Grindle, at the end of his minute of

the 28th January last, seeks certain information.

and the answers to his questions are as follows:-

(a) The companies have no powers either

by legislation or regulations and no mono poly

has been conferred upon either.

(b) Both are registered at Hong Kong and

are at present under British management.

(c) Both have entered into agreements with

the Government in respect of public lighting

services, but we are not given any details of

these agreements except that "they do not appear

to afford proper opportunity for imposing on

the companies any stipulations as to the

personnel of their directorate".

(d) By their Memo randa of Association

both companies may sell all or any part of

their undertakings and/or property: see

respectively (n) and (o) on page 10 and (u) and (v) on page XII of the enclosures in No.14.

This is in point with reference to A. of Sir

G. Grindle's minute.

Paragraph 4 of Sir William Peel's

despatch seems to be the most important: if the

Emergency Regulations Ordinance provides the

Colonial Coverment with "ample powers" to control these and any other public utility

undertaking