CO129-541-12 Application by Soviet Oil Company Union Petroleum Trust for permission to erect an oil tank... 14-11-1932 - 28-3-1933 — Page 9

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

96

Luc

The Hong Kong Government appears to

be able to prevent a foreign corporation holding

land in the Colony. (It is not absolutely clear

may surely he samps!

applicatund from the Governor's telegram (42) that this to hold land" Love cont

power extends to land which is freehold, but

I think we can assume either that it does, or

that there is no freehold land available which

would be suitable for an oil installation).

The Governor is satisfied that it would be

difficult to control an agency established by the Soviet Oil Company itself, and is prepared to refuse permission to such an agency to hold land in the Colony.

The Hong Kong Government has no power

to prevent the sub-lease of Crown lands to

local agents acting on behalf of the Soviet Oil

Company, and the Governor would not be disposed

to place obstacles in the way of such an agency

so acting.

This is not a matter regarding which

it would seem to be desirable to suggest the

introduction of special restrictive legislation

in Hong Kong, which could only be regarded as

discriminatory.

P

I

Page

Page

I think we might reply by telegram

authorising the Governor to withhold permission.

for the sub-letting of Crown lands to the Soviet

Oil Company, or to refuse permission to the Soviet

Oil Company to hold land in the Colony. Continue

that special measures to prevent the acquisition

of land by, or the operations of, any local agents

acting on behalf of the Soviet Oil Company would

not appear to be desirable, and, as there is at

present no power to prevent the acquisition of

land, or operations, of such agents, the Secretary

of State agrees that no obstacles should be placed

in the way of any such agents so acting, provided that due precautions are taken against any attempts of propaganda or espionage.

I suggest the preparation of a draft

telegram on the above lines for circulation to

the Board of Trade, Admiralty, War Office, Foreign Office and Petroleum Department, with copies of

(42), asking whether they concur.

6.2.33

I don't think so.

9 think's

ical

the word

"no

Nor d

Sho.

ine

understood?

to have

sale

been omitted

before

the word

difficulig

mi

the

second para

1 ((2).

to the

حسنة

a good way

ve dispored

Simply

Om objection is meaning

presence of Soviet agents

lous agency

مسمار

might

be

9 600.

out of this.

و

to Jay

ICat

10

ge 10

ge 10Page 11

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