CO129-623-2 Rubber Industry- report and correspondence on the labour situation 1-12-1950 - 31-3-1951 — Page 17

97261/17/1/50

Colonial office,

17

Sanctuary Buildings,

Great Smith Street,

S. W. 1.

4 January, 1951.

2

Dear Taylor,

Many thanks for your letter of the 16th December, enclosing a report of a meeting with the British Rubber Footwear Manufacturers' Association about the importation of rubber footwear into the United Kingdom from Hong Kong.

With regard to the points mentioned in paragraph 4 of the Report, our comments are as follows:-

(a) The Hong Kong factory, which was recently closed down, was forced to do so for reasons particular to that concern. Provided the Hong Kong manufacturers are able to retain their market in the United Kingdom, there is no reason to suppose that other factories will have to close.

(b) The diversion of Hong Kong exports to other parts of the Commonwealth is not a matter which can be decided by H.MG. in the United Kingdom. India and the other countries of the Commonwealth can please themselves whether or not they import Hong Kong footwear, and there is no reason to suppose that the Hong Kong manufacturers are not aware of the possibilities of the Commonwealth market. India herself manufactures rubber footwear in a big way.

(a) B.S.I. standards are already being employed in Hong Kong in a number of industries. They have not yet been applied to the rubber footwear industry, but there is some doubt about the allegation that the Hong Kong products are inferior to those of the United Kingdom. A pair of children's rubber

H. Gordon Taylor, Esq.,

Board of Trade.

/boots