CO129-557-9 British protection of companies in China 26-3-1936 - 27-2-1937 — Page 28

2.

companies but to British companies with branches in

China wherever incorporated.

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4. On the other hand, I think that Mr. Call is

inclined to exaggerate the extent to which the Straits

Settlements would be affected by the suggested amendments.

He states that "there are a considerable number of

important China companies incorporated in the Straits

Settlements, which carry on business in China, and whose

headquarters are in the Colony. of the greater number,

and certainly of the more important of these companies,

both the directors and members are mainly Straits-born

Chinese who are recognised here as British subjects,

though they may also be claimed as Chinese subjects by

the Chinese Government", and later on he say s "the effect

of the Ambassador's proposals would be to exclude the

vast majority of locally incorporated China companies

from operating in China. This would be an intolerable

hardship on a section of the community which looks upon

itself as British and considers itself entitled to the

protection and benefits accruing from domicile under the

British Flag".

5.

In view of the above statements I have caused

a careful enquiry to be made as to the number of

Singapore companies operating in China and I attach a

list of these with particulars of their composition.

Section 216 of the 1925 Order in Council provides that

"A register of companies incorporated or registered in

the United Kingdom or in any British possession and

carrying on business in China shall be kept in the

office of every Consulate in China". The Consulate-

General at Shanghai effects most of these registrations

and is informed of the others, and the attached list

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