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REPORT FOR CONFERENCE OF BRITISH CHAMBERS,
INDUSTRIES
To write a report on INDUSTRIES in Shanghai is no small undertaking and one that requires at the least the full co- operation of all British Firms interested in Industry.
Generally speaking, we have found a distinct antipathy
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on the part of many firms to give any information at all. Amongst the various views expressed are the following:-
Information ad lib has been given to the various Chambers and the local Authorities with no apparent amelioration of the situation. Is it likely a reiteration of this information will meet with any more success coming through the Associated British Chambers of Commerce? Certain Firms are, and they are quite prepared to admit it, doing very well under existing circumstances and are in no hurry to see any change. This is a short sighted view perhaps but they argue, how do we know that any changes brought about by the Associated British Chambers of Commerce action will be for the better of Shanghai as a whole.
Other Firms state that after considerable negotiations in most cases direct with the Japanese Authorities they have arrived at a satisfactory basis of working and do not wish to risk disturbing this state of affairs by divulging their past difficulties and reopening problems which have already been settled.
This being the case it can readily be understood how difficult it is to obtain sufficient information to give a full and accurate picture of the industrial problems of Shanghai. The following report has therefore been drawn up on the basis of the generalisation of information received from those Firms who have been willing to assist by giving information.
This report is confined to the position as it is today as it would serve no useful purpose and would take too long to review all the difficulties and obstacles which had to be overcome in the earlier days of the war when these areas were completely closed and during the subsequent period when it was impossible to obtain passes for labour to proceed to and from their work by road.
Before the outbreak of hositlities the industrial area of Shanghai was mainly in the districts of Yangt szepoo, Hongkew, and Chapei, which are all adjoining. These areas are all North of the Soochow Creek and have been and are still in complete control of the Japanese military and naval authorities. Perhaps it should be mentioned here that certain British Industries are established at Pootung but as we have been unable to obtain any information from these Industries they do not appear in this
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