CO129-590-4 Hong Kong and Shanhai Bank- temporary transfer of registered offices 4-2-1941 - 8-1-1942 — Page 14

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A further meeting to consider the

possibility of legislation to enable the transfer of registration etc. of any Hong Kong Companies which it might be desirable so to transfer was held at the Colonial Office on the 30th December.

Those present were -

Mr. Norman Young and Mr. Thorley, Treasury. Sir John Brenan and Mr. Dean, Foreign office. Mr. E.J. Elliott and kr. Brown, Board of Trade. Mr. Gent, Sir Sydney Abrahams, Mr. Figg, and Kr. konson, Colonial Office.

After some discussion, it was agreed that procedure on the following lines appeared desirable.

(1) That legislative steps should be taken to allow of the transfer from Hong Kong of Companies eto. registered there. It was explained that it was possible to legislate for Hong Kong either by Act of Parliament, by Ordof the Hong Kong Legislative Council, or by Order in Council. The first of these courses seemed unnecessary, the second was quite impossible, and it was, therefore, agreed that the Colonial Office should proceed with the drafting of an Order in Council which would permit Companies etc. registered in Hong Kong under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance to transfer their registered offices from the Colony to some other part of the British Empire. It was further agreed that the Colonial Office should communicate their draft Order in Council at a suitable stage to the Foreign office, in order that the latter might consider the position of "Hong Kong China" Companies and "China" Companies under the China Order in Council in relation to the proposed

new Order in Council. The Board of Trade, would also be hapet in Pouch with the foreparation of This Order. in. Concil.

(2) That the Board of Trade should concurrently, and in consultation with the Colonial office, prepare the draft of a further Order in Council which would permit of the admission of such Companies to the United Kingdom Register of Companies should any Hong

Kong