§ 7. Mr. Chorltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction of British firms trading in China owing to the imitation by Chinese of trade marks owned by British firms and registered in China; and will he take steps to prevent this in future?
§ Viscount CranborneYes, Sir. The matter will continue to receive close attention, and all possible steps will continue to be taken to protect the interests of British firms.
§ Mr. ChorltonCan my Noble Friend give me a little more information as to the steps that will be taken?
§ Viscount CranborneI can only assure my hon. Friend that we are taking all possible steps in the matter.
§ 8. Mr. Chorltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Chinese Government that it is desirable that the Chinese law relating to trade marks be so interpreted as to prevent the deception of the public by the use of similar marks by different owners, and that the Chinese law should be so amended as to make it plain that it is unlawful to register as a trade mark any device which being identical with or similar to a registered trade mark belonging to another owner and used on the same type of goods, whether in the same register class or not, is by reason of its similarity calculated to deceive the public?
§ Viscount CranborneThe question of trade mark registration in China has from the beginning been given careful consideration. Frequent representations in the interests of British firms were made by His Majesty's Ambassador before the Chinese Trade Mark Law actually came into operation, and in July last the attention of the competent department of the Chinese Government was again drawn to the particular point raised by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. ChorltonWas there any result?
§ Viscount CranborneI have not heard of any further development, but I will make inquiries.