CO129-557-9 British protection of companies in China 26-3-1936 - 27-2-1937 — Page 99

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3.

in trade without being certified by the Consul to the

Customs, or without having obtained the Consul'

certificate, the owners etc. are liable to penalties

and the vessel to arrest. King's Regulation No.1 of

1928 provides that nothing in the above mentioned

regulations shall affect the right of the Secretary of

state to direct that British protection shall not be

secorded to a vessel, even though it has received a

British certificate of registry, and that a consuler

{ certificate under these regulations shall not be issued

in relation to much a vessel.

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6. The company states that the launch is used

for conveying members of the staff to and from

Kulangsu, and the Grown Advocate has advised that this

would bring it within the meaning of the worda "engage

in trade". I suggest for Your Excellency'a consider-

ation therefore that, subject to any observations which

he way wish to offer, His Majesty's Consul at Amoy

might be authorised to warn the company that even if

registration of the launch is insisted on it will be

prevented under the enactments above quoted from being

used for the purpose for which it is intended. This

despatch has been shown to the Crown Advocate and I

enclose his minute concurring in its terms.

7. As I have said above, the case is not in

itself important, but registration would create a

precedent for other and more important cases. I would

also call attention to this further example of the

difficulties caused by the attempt of our local comparay

/legislation