HC Deb 09 March 1948 vol 448 cc1005-7
47. Mr. William Teeling

asked the President of the Board of Trade what exports destined for China have been held up in Hong Kong in the last six months; and what is being done about them.

Mr. Bottomley (Secretary for Overseas Trade)

I regret that no figures are available as Hong Kong is a general distributing centre for the Far East, and it is not possible to distinguish goods imported for resale or on-shipment to China from those destined for other markets.

Mr. Teeling

Is the hon. Member aware that China has quite recently closed the market to many goods, especially motor cars, being put through Hong Kong? Are any steps being taken to sell them elsewhere—say, Siam?

Mr. Bottomley

That will be considered, but Siam is a soft currency area, and we should therefore not be very anxious to do that.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Would it not be a good thing to send out someone from the Board of Trade to investigate the position, as there is ample trade to be done out there?

Mr. Bottomley

There has recently been a customs agreement, so the hon. and gallant Member will see that the matter has been well considered.

Mr. W. Fletcher

In view of the fact that there is an enormous amount of goods and merchandise being held up in Hong Kong, is it not the duty of the Board of Trade to release them and to distribute them in order to gain a little more hard currency?

Mr. Bottomley

We are not altogether clear about the goods. It is a distributing centre. As I have said, this is a matter which has to be fully considered. Import licences come into it.

48. Mr. Teeling

asked the President of the Board of Trade what British exports are at present being sold to Japan; what we are importing from Japan; and how much of this is for re-export.

Mr. Bottomley

Exports to Japan from the United Kingdom in the last seven months were only £60,000, tobacco for N.A.A.F.I. comprising nearly half the total. Imports into the United Kingdom during the same period amounted to £3 million, three-quarters of which was cotton piece goods, for finishing in this country with a view to subsequent export. Raw silk comprised nearly all the remainder of the imports in this period. There were, however, considerable sales to Japan from outside this country on the United Kingdom account, mainly of salt, which reduced the excess of purchases over sales by the United Kingdom to about three-quarters of a million pounds.

Mr. Teeling

Can we have an assurance that no efforts are being made to sell to Japan machinery which can be used for their textile industry?

Mr. Drayson

Are the exports of £3 million paid for in dollars or sterling?

Mr. Bottomley

There is an overall balance. Sterling is the form of payment except for the textiles.

Mr. W. Fletcher

Does the figure of £3 million include exports of textiles to Hong Kong to be sold there in competition against us?

49. Mr. Teeling

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made in the sale of exports to Siam and to the Philippines; what trade missions he has in either of these countries or representatives attached to our embassy or legation in these countries; and what imports we receive or could receive from each.

Mr. Bottomley

Exports from the United Kingdom both to Siam and the Philippines for the second half of 1947 showed a sharp increase over those for the first half. As regards imports, Siam is a source of hard wood and hides for the United Kingdom and of rice for British Colonial territories. The Philippines are normally a source of hemp, timber and copra, but they must be regarded as in effect within the dollar area and in present circumstances sterling area purchases must be kept to a minimum. The British diplomatic missions in both countries include commercial diplomatic officers.

Mr. Teeing

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that France already has a mission working very hard in the Philippines to get trade with them in goods of a kind in which we could also trade? Is he further aware that, as a result of his answers to the last three Questions, we are a little nervous that the Board of Trade may not be paying enough attention to these Far East questions.

Mr. Bottomley

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are paying every attention.