HC Deb 16 March 1911 vol 22 cc2584-5W
Sir WILLIAM BULL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the British Consular Court in Egypt has decided that the Helouan (Egypt) Development Company is duly registered, whilst the mixed court of first instance has similarly decided that this company is not duly registered, but null and void; whether he is aware that a man owing money to an English company carrying on business in Egypt, and who is desirous of evading obligations, has only to apply to the mixed tribunal to have the company declared non-existent; and whether he proposes taking any steps to safeguard British investors in English companies carrying on business in Egypt?

Sir E. GREY

I understand that the British Consular Court has decided that the Helouan (Egypt) Development Company is duly registered in England as a British Joint Stock Company, while the Mixed Court decided that the company was null and void and non-existent in Egypt, as it had not complied with the requirements of Egyptian Law as laid down in the Mixed Commercial Code. With regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, I have nothing to add to the answers which I have already given to him.