CO129-613-4 Transfer of registration of China Companies from the United Kingdom to Hong Kong 16-4-1946 - 3-2-1948 — Page 17

(F16211/4110/10)

RESTRICTED

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

17th December, 1947.

1 c. c.

(62).

Dear Palmer,

Thank you for your letter 54296/47 of the 8th December about British companies operating in China.

I enclose a copy of the despatch we have sent to His Majesty's Ambassador in China. As you will see, we have instructed him to wait for the all- clear from Hong Kong, and I should be grateful if you would ask the Governor to confirm to His Majesty's Ambassador that, with the withdrawal of the proposal to discriminate between one British company and another, he now sees no objection to the scheme. It is of course on the cards that in the altered circumstances Sir Ralph Stevenson may not think the introduction of the scheme would any longer serve a useful purpose.

The scheme would be on a voluntary basis, companies being (in the words of His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai) "requested to deposit documents", and consequently we do not

contemplate the issue of any regulations in this connexion. This being so, it would not appear necessary to consult either the British Chamber of Commerce at Shanghai or the General Chamber of Commerce at Hong Kong.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Chataway.

H. Palmer, Esq.,

Colonial Office.

Yours sincerely,

Auscott

(A.L. Scott)

65

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