§ 15. Mr. NUNNasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Chinese Government have adhered to their decision that as from 1st September all goods shipped from this country to China shall be accompanied by invoices signed by the Chinese Consul at the port of shipment; what procedure is to be followed; at what ports in this country Chinese Consuls are stationed; and what effect this requirement is likely to have upon British trade?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but certain concessions have 1595 been made in the matter. Details of these and of the procedure to be followed are given in the Board of Trade Journal for 25th August and 6th October. At present there is only one Chinese Consular station in this country, namely the Consulate-General in London, but understand that another is to be opened shortly in Liverpool and that the London Consulate-General propose to open a branch office in Manchester for the certification of Consular invoices. This requirement must, of course, involve some additional formality and expense to United Kingdom exporters but it should be pointed out that the regulations apply to all countries.