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CYPHER/CAT A
FROM PRIORITY HONG KONG
FINA
TO CWEALTH OFFICE
3 APRIL
7/12
ADDRESSED CO TELEGRAM NO. 423 OF 3RD APRIL
TEL NO. 423
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FOR GALSWORTHY. MY TELEGRAM NO. 406. WEEKLY JAITELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT.
SOME FURTHER BACKGROUND TO THE CURRENT EFFORTS OF THE COMMUNIST
UNIONS TO OBTAIN REINSTATEMENT IN EMPLOYMENT FOR THE WORKERS
DISMISSED LAST YEAR MAY BE HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU SHOULD
BE FACED WITH CRITICISM THAT WE ARE OBSTRUCTING WHEN WE
SHOULD BE ACTIVELY ASSISTING THESE UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE IN A
RETURN TO WORK.
2. LAST SUMMER, AS YOU KNOW, WE WERE PRESENTED WITH A MAJOR
CHALLENGE WHEN COMMUNIST UNIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELDS
OF TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC UTILITIES, ORGANIZED FOR PURELY POLITICAL
REASONS ILLEGAL STOPPAGES AIMED AT BRINGING THE COLONY'S ECONOMY
TO A HALT. WE WERE ABLE TO RESIST THE CHALLENGE AND THE DISMISSAL
OF 'STRIKERS' BROKE THE POWER OF THE COMMUNIST UNIONS, WHICH
NOW HAVE MUCH REDUCED SUPPORT. A VERY CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF
THE ORIGINAL STRIKERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE TRANSPORT FIELD,
NOW HAVE AT LEAST PART TIME EMPLOYMENT BUT ARE STILL DRAWING
'STRIKE PAY'.
3. THE COMMUNIST POLICY NOW IS AIMED NOT ONLY AT LIQUIDATING
THIS LIABILITY FOR CONTINUED STRIKE PAY BY TRYING TO FORCE THE
UNIONS TO TAKE ACTION TO SECURE THE RE-EMPLOYMENT OF THE DISCHARGED
WORKERS BUT ALSO AT RE-ESTABLISHING ITS POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES. IT IS KNOWN THAT THEY ARE PRESENTING THE
RETURN TO WORK AS A MEANS OF 'STARTING A REVOLUTION WHICH WOULD
CONTINUE UNTIL THE HONG KONG BRITISH WERE DEFEATED' THEY ARE
LAST
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