§ 11. Mr. NUNNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Centrosojus (England), Limited, is included in the register, kept at offices of British consulates in China, of companies incorporated or registered in the United Kingdom and carrying on business in China; whether he will state the nationality of the directors and shareholders of the company and the nationality of the members of the Shanghai staff of the company; and whether the company is subject to the jurisdiction of His Majesty's courts in China as a British company?
§ Sir J. SIMONCentrosojus (England), Limited, is incorporated under the Companies Acts of this country and is registered as a British company accordingly at His Majesty's Consulate-General at Shanghai. As regards the second part of the question, I have no detailed information, but I understand that the company is predominantly Russian in character. Since, however, it is registered as a British company it is subject to the jurisdiction of His Majesty's courts in China.
§ Mr. NUNNMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is not a matter of option on the part of the Foreign Office whether a company is allowed to be registered locally in Shanghai? Is it not a 1012 fact, for instance, that this company does not enjoy ordinary consular protection, but enjoys only the protection of the British courts; and, in view of the fact that the staff is entirely Russian, is it not likely that this sort of proceeding will make the Chinese authorities even more restive under the extra-territoriality rights than they are at the present moment?
§ Sir J. SIMONI am sure that my hon. Friend knows this subject very well. My understanding is that His Majesty's consular officers in China cannot legally refuse to register a company which is a British company, but the fact that the company is so registered and so subject to the jurisdiction of British courts in China does not ipso facto entitle it to receive British protection.
§ Mr. NUNNWill my right hon. Friend make further inquiry as to whether it is not the fact that it is necessary that the list should be approved
§ Sir J. SIMONI will look into that.
§ Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXIs it not wrong that this company, all of whose directors belong to a country which has gloried in abandoning extraterritoriality, should on the first occasion rush to the protection of the British courts to get justice?