Chinese factory produces thousands of British flags after Queen’s death

world
Chinese Factory Produces Thousands Of British Flags After Queen’s Death
More than 100 employees at Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Company put in 14-hour days starting at 7.30am making nothing but British-themed flags. Photo: PA Images
Share this article

Associated Press Reporter

Orders for thousands of British flags started to flood into a factory south of Shanghai in China 90 minutes after Britain's Queen Elizabeth died.

More than 100 employees at Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Company set aside other work and put in 14-hour days starting at 7.30am making nothing but British-themed flags.

Advertisement

They turned out at least 500,000 in the first week, according to general manager Fan Aiping.

Some are British flags to be carried by mourners or hung outside homes.

Workers pack British flags produced at the Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Company factory in Shaoxing, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province
Workers pack British flags produced at the Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Company factory in Shaoxing, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province (Ng Han Guan/AP)

Advertisement

Others show Elizabeth’s portrait and the years of her birth and death.

They range from 21-150 centimetres (8in-59in) wide and wholesale for about seven yuan (87p) each.

The first customer sent an order at 3am Chinese time for tens of thousands, according to Ms Fan.

She said 20,000 flags that the factory had in stock were sent out that morning.

Advertisement

“The customer came to our factory directly to grab the products,” Ms Fan said.

General manager Fan Aiping holds up flags featuring the Queen’s image at the Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Company factory in Shaoxing, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province
General manager Fan Aiping holds up flags featuring the queen’s image at the Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Company factory (Ng Han Guan/AP)

“Many of the flags weren’t even packaged. They were put in a box and shipped away.”

Advertisement

The factory had been making flags for the football World Cup before the queen’s death.

Chuangdong has been in the industry since 2005 and produces flags for the World Cup and other sports events or national day celebrations.

It also makes sports-themed scarves and banners.

Employees pay attention to news for events that might bring in orders.

Advertisement

“There is a business opportunity behind every news event,” Ms Fan said.

Ni Guozhen, an employee since 2005, said she has learned about the world through her work.

Workers produce British flags at the Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Company factory in Shaoxing, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province
Workers produce British flags at the Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Company factory (Ng Han Guan/AP)

“I’ve learned a lot about current events,” said Ms Ni, who was sewing flags with the queen’s portrait.

“My knowledge has grown. Therefore, I’m proud and happy that I’m making flags.”

Ms Ni also remembers filling orders for British-themed flags for a royal wedding.

“There is a story behind each flag,” Ms Fan said.

“This time it’s about the queen in the United Kingdom. They are buying these flags to mourn the queen deeply.”

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com