Companies an overwhelmingly large proportion of the capital has been subscribed by Chinese, the British part being very nominal indeed. There are quite a few large-scale enterprises here under the British flag in which the only British interest is a small investment and a shadow directorate. These firms pay a few hundred pounds each year as director fees to their obliging British friends. and employ one or two Britons—usually at, the lowest possible salary—to ward off inquisitive Chinese and Japanese officials who may call to snoop around the Union Jack decorated premises.
These firms, though the capital! investment is very considerable and the profits good, pay no income tax to either the British or Chinese Governments, avoid a multitude of exactions to which the less astute and unprotected Chinese are subjected. have been able to keep going when the unprotecteds have been brought to a standstill and appear to ignore both Chinese and British regulations relating to the use of child labour. These astute Chinese are making big money out of the protection they have wangled and are giving practically nothing in return Why. then. Ham CALEDONIA waste time chivvying a few impoverished. sorely perplexed Britons for small subs, which they honestly, cannot afford. and leave this potential gold mine unexploited?
Surely the British government could initiate legislation, or issue an Order in Council by which such companies would become liable to some tax, capital, income. or special There must be some way discoverable whereby these astute Chinese and Britons, who are trading on the te Union Jack ould be made to supply the necessary for quite a few squadrons of Spitfires, Hurricanes and other equally useful things to our war effort.
By the way. Britain needs not only money. Apparently she needs men, and needs them badly. when all she could send to assist Greece was a couple of divisions, and these borrowed from another front where hard-won gains had not been con-via H'kong solidated.
What about the B.R.A. sending a recommendation to the Home Government to extend conscription to Shanghai Britons? Quite a lot of the China-born boys are now serving in one or other of the Services.
Women and girls have been conscripted in Britain. In spite of this a lot of imported. hefty, British lads still hang on here and apparently will do until compelled to join up. It is time the rank and file of the BRA took this matter of some of the big fir on to these men, more concerned 10 ensure the success of their own firms than the safety of the Homeland ani Empire.
"NORTH-CHINA DAILY NEWS"
395m.
XMHD teke
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.