CO129-557-9 British protection of companies in China 26-3-1936 - 27-2-1937 — Page 42

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not seriously damage either British trade or interests.

In so far, however, asthey concern Chinese-operated

companies incorporated in Singapore and Hong Kong, they

would appear most undesirable on the grounds (a) that

they would run counter to the present policy of

encouraging British trade in China by every possible

means, and (b) on the more specific grounds that it

would be an unjustifiable hardship to Chinese British

subjects, born and settled in the British Empire who

would yet be excluded under the present proposals owing

to the possession of Chinese nationality of which they

are unable to divest themselves.