CO129-557-9 British protection of companies in China 26-3-1936 - 27-2-1937 — Page 19

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to Sir John Brenan's proposals was largely based upon

the strong protest from the Straits Settlements on

behalf of the many Straits-born Chinese who would be

affected by any such revision of the China Order-in-

Council. As in fact we can now only assume that

Substanhal

the existence of any such, interests must be discounted,

suchy

we were left only with the question of the safe-

guarding of the position of existing Hong Kong China

other

companies and our British companies which are

At the

already operating in China under the safeguard of

registration under the Orders-in-Council.

Conference there appeared to be a considerable

difference of opinion between Sir John Pratt,

representing the Far Eastern Department at the

Foreign Office, and Mr. Beckett (who was concerned

with the legal issues involved). The Board of Trade

were also represented. The main issue which was

finally unravelled was whether there must continue

to be a distinction beteen the protection and the

registration of British companies (including China

companies and Hong Kong China companies). The

present difficulty mainly arises in cases in which

exercises his power.

the Ambassador koje dicepstion

approval of the Secretary of State,

.ng

Those

A

subject to the

of withdraw protection from British companies

uine

which he does not regard as containing general

thans British interests, but which, in spite of not having

the enjoyment of British protection in their

operations in China, nevertheless can claim the

extra-territorial privilege of the jurisdiction of

the British Courts, if they become involved in

litigation in China.

It was finally concluded that the Board

of