CO 531 — British North Borneo Original Correspondence

416 volumes

Colonial Office correspondence covering British North Borneo administration from the chartered company era through WWII Japanese occupation, post-war reconstruction, constitutional development, and the transfer of sovereign rights to the Crown. Also covers parallel BNB Registers and Out-Letters (CO 777, CO 778).

Early despatches (CO 531/1 - 19)

General correspondence: despatches, offices and individuals from the early colonial period.

Thematic files — pre-WWII (CO 531/20 - 29)

• CO 531/20/1 — Treatment of Natives and Labour Force
• CO 531/20/2 — Boundary between Netherlands Borneo and Sarawak
• CO 531/20/3 — Survey of Channels between Philippines and Borneo by US
• CO 531/20/4 — Forestry matters, including preferential tariff for timber imported into Australia
• CO 531/20/6 — Brunei: Estimates for 1927
• CO 531/20/7 — Status of British North Borneo Company: claim to immunity from taxation
• CO 531/20/9 — Proposal to form a Federation of British Possessions on Borneo and Labuan
• CO 531/20/11 — Memorial of Mr St Vincent B. Down, detailing charges against Rajah of Sarawak
• CO 531/20/17 — US Proposals for Administration of Islands to East of Borneo; Borneo’s boundary with Philippines
• CO 531/20/18 — The New “Opium and Chandu” Ordinance
• CO 531/21/2 — Survey of Uncharted Seas off Coast of North Borneo: possession of islands discovered
• CO 531/21/16 — Petition by Haji Sandukong in defence of his right to collect edible birds’ nests
• CO 531/22/8 — Anglo-Dutch Boundary in Borneo
• CO 531/23/9 — Claim by Sultan of Sulu and Daughter to Part of British North Borneo and Turtle Islands
• CO 531/24/3 — Japanese Fishing Interests in North Borneo: establishment of industry at Sandakan
• CO 531/24/12 — Oil Concessions: Grant to Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company; inquiries by Japan
• CO 531/24/19 — Future of North Borneo: Proposed Purchase by Straits Settlement
• CO 531/25/8 — Murut Population: Threat of Extinction and Injustice of Ungraduated Poll Tax
• CO 531/25/9 — Permission Sought by Japanese for Establishment of Electric Light, Power and Water Supply Company at Tawau
• CO 531/26/2 — Japanese Fishing Activities, Including Trespass in Borneo Territorial Waters
• CO 531/26/7 — Report on Wildlife Preservation in Borneo and Sarawak
• CO 531/26/11 — Proposed Expedition by Harvard University to Study Primates in Northern Siam and Borneo
• CO 531/27/2 — Japanese Fish Canning Industry on Islands off Coast of Borneo
• CO 531/27/6 — G.T.M. MacBryan: Complaint against Being Banned from Entering Sarawak
• CO 531/27/7 — North Borneo Passports: Regulations regarding Issue, Renewal, Format
• CO 531/28/2 — Japanese Activities on Islands in North Borneo
• CO 531/29/5 — Progress Reports and Financial Statements for 1938-9
• CO 531/29/6 — Japanese Activities in Islands in North Borneo

WWII and Japanese Occupation (CO 531/30 - 33)

• CO 531/30/4 — Provisions for Administration of Sarawak during Japanese Occupation
• CO 531/31/4-6 — Borneo: Civil Affairs Policy Directives
• CO 531/31/7 — Military Administration of Territories in North Borneo
• CO 531/31/10 — Civil Affairs Policy in British Borneo: Directive to General MacArthur, Allied Commander-in-Chief, South West Pacific
• CO 531/31/12 — Liberation of Borneo: Messages of Loyalty to the Rajah
• CO 531/31/14 — Arrangements for Military Administration of Borneo Territories
• CO 531/31/15-16 — Military Administration: Indemnity and Validation Ordinance; Proclamations
• CO 531/31/19-20 — Negotiations with British North Borneo Company for Transfer of Administration to His Majesty’s Government
• CO 531/31/25 — Sarawak: Constitutional Instruments
• CO 531/31/30-32 — Conditions in Borneo: Reports and Correspondence from Brigadier C.F. MacAskie, Chief Civil Affairs Officer
• CO 531/31/34 — Destruction of Government Property in Sandakan: Engineer Reconnaissance Report, November 1945
• CO 531/32/1 — Accounts of Events in Labuan Leading to the Japanese Occupation; Comments on Centenary Celebration Plans
• CO 531/32/3 — Death Certification of Europeans during the Japanese Occupation
• CO 531/33/2-3 — Agreement for the Transfer of Borneo Sovereign Rights and Assets from the British North Borneo Company to the Crown

Post-war reconstruction (CO 531/34 - 52)

• CO 531/34-36 — Financial Affairs: reconstruction, treasury control, accounts July 1946 - December 1947
• CO 531/35/6-8 — Constitutional Development in North Borneo (including Draft Letters Patent, Orders-in-Council, Royal Instructions)
• CO 531/37/1-5 — Reconstruction and Development: report by McFadzean, finance, roads
• CO 531/38/1-3 — Proposals for Assimilation of Officers of British North Borneo (Chartered) Company into the Service of the Colony
• CO 531/39 — Ordinances: Reconstitution of Land Title Registers, Education, Probate and Administration, Highways, Immigration, Sedition (1947), Custodian of Property
• CO 531/40 — Ordinances: Registration of Births and Deaths, Ports and Harbours, Trades Licensing, Appropriation (1949), Passport, Immigration (1948), Titles to Land (Occupation Period)
• CO 531/41/1-4 — War Damage: British North Borneo Company claims and War Damage Commission report
• CO 531/42/3-5 — Agreement for Transfer of Borneo Sovereign Rights and Assets to the Crown: Obligations and Liabilities; Agreement of Novation
• CO 531/43/9-11 — North Borneo War Victim’s Fund: establishment, ordinance (1947), report by C.F.C. MacAskie
• CO 531/45/2 — Replanning of Jesselton: Transport Requirements
• CO 531/45/7 — Transfer of British North Borneo Records to the Colonial Office
• CO 531/46/11-16 — Constitution: Draft Statutory Instruments for Legislative and Executive Councils; Constitution Executive Council membership and minutes
• CO 531/47/4-8 — Reconstruction and Development: Teacher Training College Tuaran, disposal of ex-enemy estates, Kuhara Rubber Estate, new hospital at Sandakan
• CO 531/49/4-7 — British North Borneo Timber Concessions: termination, negotiations, agreements, final settlement
• CO 531/50/4 — Application by Jardine, Matheson and Company to Negotiate Future Timber Concessions
• CO 531/50/5 — Proposals for the Introduction of Local Government in the Colony of North Borneo
• CO 531/51 — Agreement between His Majesty’s Government and the Rajah of Sarawak
• CO 531/52 — Instrument of Cession of the State of Sarawak

Related series

• CO 777/1-4 — British North Borneo Register of Correspondence (4 volumes)
• CO 778/1 — British North Borneo Register of Out-Letters (1 volume)