§ 27. Sir R. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many factories and other assembly establishments have been set up in the Colony of Hong Kong to give employment to the greatly increased population since 1949; and what quantity of raw materials must be imported to supply these undertakings apart from the entrepôt trade with China from that Colony.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsFive hundred and twenty-two new factories and workshops were registered in the Colony between 1st January, 1949, and 21st March of this year, giving employment to a further 30,000 workers, but there has also been a steady increase in the number of factories and workshops not officially registered, and also in the trades and services which cater for the general needs of the population.
With reference to the second part of the Question, I cannot give figures relating specifically to these new undertakings, but statistics are available showing the 997 total monthly requirements of important materials for all the Colony's industries and, with permission I will circulate these figures with the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir R. GlynDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the work which has been done by the Governor of Hong Kong and his officers to give employment to this vast increase in the population has been extremely successful, but that if there is any diminution in employment it may cause industrial difficulties? Will he see that the raw material needed for those factories is forthcoming?
§ Mr. GriffithsWe are very conscious of the need for seeking to provide as large a measure of employment as possible, and of the dangers of increasing unemployment.
§ Mr. HarrisonWhat steps is my right hon. Friend taking to control this terrific increase of population in Hong Kong, and also what steps is he taking to stop the large increase in economic activity which is beyond the capacity of that particularly small island?
§ Mr. GriffithsI think I have answered Questions already in the House about the arrangements that are made to control the movement of population in Hong Kong.
§ Following are the figures:
| ESTIMATED QUANTITIES OF THE MORE IMPORTANT MATERIALS REQUIRED MONTHLY FOR HONG KONG INDUSTRIES | ||
| Commodity | Long tons | |
| Tinplate | … | 1,532 |
| Black Sheets | … | 2,260 |
| Steel Plates, Mild | … | 464 |
| Aluminium | … | 256 |
| Copper | … | 58 |
| Brass and Bronze | … | 717* |
| Iron and steel (including wire) | … | 2,000 |
| Galvanised Iron | … | 230 |
| Lead | … | 53 |
| Nickel | … | 7 |
| Zinc | … | 137 |
| Welding Rods and Wire | … | 100 |
| Sulphur | … | 157 |
| Rubber | … | 575 |
| Chemicals, dyestuffs and pigments | … | 3,000† |
| Metres | ||
| Tungsten Wire | … | 616,000 |
| Molybdenum Wire | … | 31,500 |
| * Of which local rolling mills can produce 270 tons of brass sheets provided scrap is available. | ||
| † Mainly for enamel, dyeing, paint and plastic industries. |