§ 13. Sir JOHN WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that unauthorized reprints of British educational books are being sold in Shanghai at low prices, and that in consequence firms importing the same books form England are left with stocks on their hands; and whether he will direct His Majesty's Minister in China to suggest to the Chinese Government the desirability of signing the Berne Copyright Convention?
§ Sir J. SIMONIt, is I am informed, a fact that such reprints are sold in China. In 1931 His Majesty's Government drew the attention of the Chinese Government to the desirability of China improving her copyright law and acceding to the international copyright convention. I will consider the position with a view to further representations should they seem likely to be useful.
§ Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the usual practice is to photograph these books and sell the copies at something like one-third of the value at which they come into the country to the very great hardship of importers of British products?