§ Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the approximate tonnage of rubber exported from British territories in the Far East to China during the past six months; how this figure compares with a similar period a year earlier; and to what extent rubber not grown in British territories has been re-exported to China through Hong Kong during the same two periods.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsApproximately 70,700 tons of natural rubber were imported into China from United Kingdom territories in the Far East during the last six months of 1950. Imports for the corresponding period of 1949 were 15,881 tons. The increase in imports may be due (a) to Chinese imports of rubber during the first half of 1950 being much below normal and (b) in view of the large increases in the price of natural rubber during the past six months to a possible Chinese desire to protect themselves against a rising market. I regret that the information to answer the second part of the Question is not available.