CO129-613-4 Transfer of registration of China Companies from the United Kingdom to Hong Kong 16-4-1946 - 3-2-1948 — Page 99

?

(F 7325/4110/10)

Restricted

No 297

sir,

FORSIGN OFFICE, S.V.

1st July, 1947.

SA.

27.

1.

54246/47

I am to refer to Hong Kong Despatch No.208 of the 27th vember, 1946, on the subject of the registration of China Companies at Hong Kong.

2. Tht despatch, which it is understood you have seen, proposed the enactment of legislation to enable China Companies which transferred their registration to the United Kingdom or other British territory to transfer their registration back to Hong Kong. According to a telegram received by the Colonial Office from Hong Kong you were consulted and considered the Governor's recommendations satisfactory.

20.

3. The Secretary of State for the Colonies on the 10th May, 1947, sent a telegram No. 743, to Hong Kong asking to be informed when the legislation -roposed in paragraphs 14 n 16 of the despatch under reference had been enacted and the date on which it became operative so that the Companies affected might be notified.

4. I am informed that the Government of Hong Kong are still not repared to enact legislation dealing with all the problems relating to China Companies but refer to restrict action for the moment t the above-mentioned legislation.

5. The question has been considered, in the light of the foregoing, whether steps should now be taken to specify the ante laid down in Article 4(1) of the China Order in Council 1943.

Hong Kong Proclamation No.27 of the 11th March, 1946, aɛ mended by ordinance No.2 of 1946, has been ruled to be the "law of the Colony of Hong Kong", and, provision being made therein for the registration in Hong Kong of China Companies, the date in question could now be fixed without any objection being raised from a legal standpoint.

6. There may Bowever be objections from a practical point of view to specify the date in question at the present time, since it may be desirable to await the enactment by the Government of Hong Kong of more comprehensive legislation affecting China Companies. I should accordingly be glad if you would now submit your recommendation as to whether it is more advantageous to British interests to specify the date in question now or to delay for some further eriod and if you would report on the position generally.

I am,

sir,

Your obedient Servant, (For the Secretary of t

A. G. N. Ogden, Esq., C. ILG., O.B.E.,

etc.,

etc. hanghai.

etc.

(Sd) G. V. KITSON