66510-1920-Trading-with-Germany — Page 1

158

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, APRIL 16, 1920.

No. 219.-The following extract from the Board of Trade Journal dated the 19th February, 1920, is published for general information :-

TRADING WITH GERMANY.

The information as to the conditions under which commercial and financial transac- tions are permissible with German nationals and with persons and firms carrying on business in Germany, published in December last in a Parliamentary Return, Cmd. 512, is rendered out of date by the ratification of the Treaty of Peace with Germany and the issue of an Order-in-Council fixing 10th January, 1920 (the date on which the Treaty came into force) as the legal date of the termination of the war with that country.

ng to emoria es promomeer smse ett

les marime Trade with Germany is in general no longer subject to any restrictions other than those imposed on trade with other foreign countries.

Any goods may be exported to Germany without licence, except goods on Lists A and B of Prohibited Exports*, and any goods may be imported into the United Kingdom from Germany except goods on the importation of which from all countries restrictions have been or may be imposed.

The following considerations must, however, be borne in mind in transacting busi- ness with German nationals:

(a) All property, rights, and interests within the British Empire belonging to German nationals at the date on which the Treaty of Peace came into force (namely, 10th January, 1920), unless acquired as the result of a transaction undertaken since the resumption of trade with Germany was authorised (ie., since 12th July, 1919), are subject to charge under the Treaty of Peace Order, 1919, and no transaction of a commercial or financial nature is therefore permissible which involves the delivery, sale, or transfer of any such property, rights or interests.

(b) The settlement of all outstanding debts between British subjects resident within the United Kingdom, and German nationals resident in Germany, with the exception of debts arising out of transactions undertaken since 12th July, 1919, must be effected through the medium of the Clearing Office for Enemy Debts, and any transaction involving the settlement or transfer of such debts is prohibited.

Subject to such restrictions as may be imposed by the German authorities, indi- viduals and firms of British nationality are at liberty to invest money in German businesses and to establish firms or agencies in Germany.

The freedom of Germans to trade, to carry on business, and to acquire property in the United Kingdom is limited by the following special restrictions imposed on nationals of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey :-

ཡ

(a) For a period of three years from 23rd December, 1919, no national of the above-mentioned countries may enter the United Kingdom without a special licence or remain in this country for a longer period than three months, except as provided in Section 10 of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919.

(b) For a period of three years from 23rd December, 1919, no national of the above-mentioned countries will be permitted to acquire any interest in land, in any concern carrying on a "key industry" (as presently to be defined by the Board of Trade), or in any company owning a ship registered in the United Kingdom. [Vide Section 11 Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919.]

(e) For a period of five years after the termination of the war no business connected with certain non-ferrous metals and metallic ores may be carried on by, or under the influence or control of a national of the above-mentioned countries, except under licence of the Board of Trade. [Vide Non-Ferrous Metal Industry Act, 1918, and Non-Ferrous Metal Industry Rules, 1918.]

* For the export to Germany of goods on Lists A and B export licences must be obtained from the Imports and Exports Licensing Section, Board of Trade, Great George Street, S.W. 1.