§ 26 and 27. Mr. MOREINGasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulty of exhibiting British films in Hong Kong owing to the system of block-booking and blind-booking imposed by American distributors on Hong Kong distributors; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter;
(2) whether, in order to secure the adequate exhibition of British films in Hong Kong, he will require the compulsory exhibition of a 20 per cent. quota of British films at each performance in accordance with the principle of the Cinematograph Films, Act, 1927?
§ 22 and 23. Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the number of cinematograph films released for exhibition in Hong Kong during the year ended 30th June, 1935, of British and American origin, respectively;
(2) whether, in order to secure the exhibition of a reasonable proportion of British films in Hong Kong, he will consider the imposition of a special registration tax on foreign films analogous to the tax on foreign motor cars imposed under Ordinance No. 32, of 27th October, 1932?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am afraid that I have not the figures asked for by the hon. Member for South Croydon (Mr. H. G. Williams), but I will ask the Governor of Hong Kong if he can supply them. On the question of policy, I am fully alive to the considerations that have prompted my hon. Friend's questions. For economic reasons, the moment is not very opportune for imposing restrictions upon film enterprise in Hong Kong, but the whole question is engaging my attention, and I can promise my hon. Friends that it will not be lost sight of.
§ Mr. MOREINGIs my right hon. Friend aware that during the period ending on 30th June this year the proportion of American films in Hong Kong was something like 92 per cent., while the proportion of British films was only 5 per cent.? In view of the very serious question of prestige which may arise in connection with the showing of films to Chinese audiences, will my right hon. Friend speedily get in touch with the Colonial Governor on the matter?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAs I indicated in my reply, that is what I have done.
§ Mr. DAYWill the right hon. Gentleman also suggest that the same Clauses as are embodied in the Cinematograph Films Act in this country should be included in that Act?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI believe that the institution of quotas in China, and particularly in Hong Kong, would be an extremely difficult way of doing it. It is conceivable that it could be done by differential taxation, but I do not want to prejudge the issue.