HC Deb 29 March 1988 vol 130 cc376-81W
Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what has been the level of United Kingdom exports to China in each of the last five years in(a) records, (b) television programmes and (c) films;

(2) what has been the level of (a) exports to and (b) imports from China in manufactured goods in each of the last five years;

(3) what has been the level of (a) exports to and (b) imports from China in each of the last five years;

(4) whether he will list the five industries which have exported goods or services to the highest value to China in each of the last five years;

United Kingdom trade with China 1983 to 1987
I—Total trade and trade in manufactured goods
£ million
1983 1984 1985 1986 January to December 1987
Total exports 160.3 317.3 396.5 535.9 416.0
Of which:
Manufactured goods 136.1 308.3 369.4 511.7 391.1
Total imports 231.4 278.4 308.0 327.0 391.8
Of which:
Manfactured goods 132.5 163.0 171.4 185.3 270.3

II—Analysis of exports by SITC R2 divisions equating to broad industrial sectors
£ million
Division (s) 1983 1984 1985 1986 January to December 1987
71–14 (Industrial machinery and plant) 27.2 74.7 132.0 209.4 148.6
78–79 (Transport) 9.6 12.4 50.3 62.4 72.5
67 (Iron and steel) 11.1 15.3 44.8 41.5 38.7
87 (Professional and scientific instruments) 18.0 41.0 35.7 33.4 36.3
Section 5 (Chemical) 31.5 35.2 42.6 38.0 35.4

III—United Kingdom exports of books, records, videos and films
£ thousand
1983 1984 1985 1986 January to December 1987
Books 414 937 507 343 808
Records 6 9 0
Recorded videos 2 8 20 6 4
Developed cinematographic films 9 42 26 11 11

Source: Overseas Trade Statistics.

Notes:

  1. 1. 1987 figures provisional.
  2. 2. Manfactured goods are defined as sections 5 to 8 of the standard international trade classification revision 2 (SITC R2):
  3. 3. Books are defined as United Kingdom tariff headings 4901 0010 and 4903 0000:
  4. 4. Records are defined as United Kingdom tariff headings 9212 3400, 3510 and 3599:
  5. 5. Recorded videos are defined as United Kingdom tariff heading 9212 3950:
  6. 6. Films are defined as SITC R2 item 883.00.
Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will list the number of trade delegations to China that his Department has supported in each of the last five years.

Mr. Alan Clark

The numbers of outward missions to China supported by the Department for the period were:

Number
1983 3
1984 8

(5) what has been the level of United Kingdom exports of books to China in each of the last five years.

Mr. Alan Clark

Information on the value of exported goods to China by industries, as defined in the standard industrial classification, is not available: figures have been compiled using standard international trade classification revision 2 divisions equating to the broad industrial sectors. Information on the value of services and the "performance fee" value of television programmes and films exported to China is not available. Television programmes are not identified in theOverseas Trade Statistics; figures for recorded videos have been provided and may include television programmes. The available information is given in the following tables:

Number
1985 7
1986 12
1987 7
Total 37

In addition, the Department supported 14 seminars in China over the same period:

Number
1983 None
1984 4
1985 1
1986 4
1987 5

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many United Kingdom companies have established joint ventures in China in each of the last five years.

Opening Date City Title
1983–84
12 April 1983 Shanghai Multinational Instrumentation Conference and Exhibition
18 July 1983 Shanghai Naval Technology and Shipboard Electronic Defence Equipment Show
26 August 1983 Guangzhou International Telecommunications Scientific and Technical Expo Conference
21 October 1983 Shanghai International Marine Equipment Show (Marintec)
7 November 1983 Shanghai International Congress and Exhibition on Heat Treatment.
22 November 1983 Guangzhou Offshore Oil Exhibition and Conference
20 February 1984 Tianjin All-British Scientific Instruments Exhibition/Seminar
27 February 1984 Peking Multi-Nation Medical Equipment and Instrument Exhibition
1984–85
5 April 1984 Beijing International Electronic Production Conference
10 June 1984 Shanghai International Exhibition on Textiles
17 September 1984 Shanghai International Exhibition of Rubber and Plastics Industries
9 October 1984 Shanghai International Environmental Control Measuring and Testing Equipment
30 October 1984 Beijing International Tourism and Hotel Facilities Exhibition
30 October 1984 Beijing Beijing International Printing Technology Exhibition
5 November 1984 Beijing International Telecommunications, Computer and Electronics Exhibition and Conference
19 November 1984 Hangzhou International Food Processing and Packaging Equipment Exhibition
21 November 1984 Beijing Railway and Subway Expo/China '84
29 November 1984 Tianjin Electric Power and Water Expo
4 December 1984 Shanghai International Exhibition on Advanced Electronic Technology
1985–86
21 April 1985 Shanghai Semiconductor International
16 May 1985 Nanjing International Exhibition on Building Equipment, Building Material Machinery and Building Material
22 May 1985 Guangzhou Port Development and Coastal Transportation Expo
3 July 1985 Shanghai International Exhibition on Automotive Industry
18 September 1985 Beijing 2nd International Environmental Control, Measuring and Testing Equipment Exhibition
8 October 1985 Chengdu China Medical Expo
22 October 1985 Beijing International Packaging Conference and Exhibition
4 November 1985 Beijing International Agrobusiness Exhibition and Conference
26 November 1985 Guangzhou 3rd Offshore Oil Exhibition and Conference
2 December 1985 Shanghai Marintec China
7 December 1985 Beijing International New Computer Technology Exhibition
22 February 1986 Beijing Nuclear and Power China '86
13 March 1986 Beijing International Textile Industry Exhibition
14 March 1986 Beijing 2nd International Petroleum Equipment Show
20 March 1986 Beijing International Exhibition on Machine Tools, Metalworking and Allied Industries
28 March 1986 Beijing International Amusement and Educational Technology Exposition
1986–87
8 April 1986 Shanghai International Exhibition on Textile Machinery
16 April 1986 Beijing Multi-National Instrumentation Conference and Exhibition
18 April 1986 Beijing International Electronic Production Conference

Mr. Alan Clark

The information is not readily available.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will list the British trade fairs supported by the British Overseas Trade Board in China in each of the last five years.

Mr. Alan Clark

The trade fairs held in China over the past five years which attracted support through the British Overseas Trade Board are as follows:

Opening Date City Title
16 May 1986 Shanghai 3rd International Exhibition of Construction Equipment and Material
5 June 1986 Beijing International Trade Fair for Education Equipment
10 June 1986 Beijing International Exhibition of Rubber and Plastics Industries
3 July 1986 Beijing International Exhibition on Automotive Industry
16 October 1986 Beijing International Telecommunications/Computer Exhibition and Conference
18 October 1986 Beijing International Foundry Conference and Exhibition
4 November 1986 Beijing Asian Defence Technology Exposition
10 November 1986 Beijing Railway, Urban Transport and Subway Expo/China '86
27 November 1986 Guangzhou International Agrotechnology and Food Processing Exhibition and Conference
9 December 1986 Guangzhou 1st Onshore Oil Exhibition and Conference
10 March 1987 Beijing 2nd Electric Power and Water Expo
1987–88
24 April 1987 Shanghai Semiconductor International
7 May 1987 Beijing China Coal
17 June 1987 Shanghai 3rd International Exhibition on Automotive Industry
24 June 1987 Beijing 3rd Environmental Pollution and Control, Measuring and Testing Equipment Exhibition
12 September 1987 Beijing 2nd International Exhibition on Medical Equipment and Supplies
14 October 1987 Beijing Aviation Expo/China
24 November 1987 Guangzhou 2nd International Packaging Conference and Exhibition
24 November 1987 Beijing 4th International Exhibition on Rubber and Plastic Industries "Chinaplas"
4 March 1988 Beijing International Exhibition Machine Tools, Metalworking and Allied Industries

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with the Chinese Government about the problems of unauthorised publication of British books in China.

Mr. Alan Clark

Chinese law does not extend copyright protection to foreign works and such works may therefore be published in that country. Contact on the subject of copyright has been made over a number of years with the Chinese Government, both at ministerial and official level. Recently, the Chinese Government have made good progress in drawing up a comprehensive law for the protection of both domestic and foreign works. In doing this, they have consulted widely with international experts. We understand that they hope to have the new law in force by 1990 and that they intend to join one of the international copyright conventions. We will continue to encourage the Chinese Government in this process.