Fédération Internationale des Travailleurs des Industries
du Textile et de l'Habillement
PRESIDENT :
JOHN E. NEWTON
VICE-PRESIDENT:
K. BUSCHMANN
Internationale Textil- und Bekleidungsarbeiter-Vereinigung
Internationella Textil- och Beklädnadsarbetarefederationen
INTERNATIONAL TEXtile and
GARMENT WORKERS' FEDERATION
120 BAKER STREET, LONDON, W.1
GENERAL SECRETARY: J. GREENHALGH to whom all communications should be addressed
TELEPHONE:
VELDICK 1745
TELEGRAM ADDRESS :
WORKINTEX, London, W.A
May I suggest that we should be quite honest about the whole situation. The people of Hongkong have no way of expressing their approval or otherwise of British rule in the colony, and any evidence of the peoples opposition to rioting and violence cannot possibly be interpreted except by the most bigotted of persons - as being contentment, satisfaction, approval, pleasure – call it what you will - with existing conditions.
It was with a sincere desire to assist that I suggested that a universal rest day throughout the colony, with a rather liberal granting of licences to cushion the effect, would assist the Labour Department in its efforts to control the hours worked. I am also deeply concerned with the communist influence in the colony, and here I feel that the administration could, if it so desired, destroy much of this influence by eliminating glaring injustices. I am painfully aware that this is so easy to say, but so very difficult to accomplish. However, we are at long last making progress on the question of working hours for women and young persons, and this is encouraging.
I must again repeat that the recent disorders led me to act with great restraint because I wished to avoid any suggestion that improved legislation could only be achieved by rioting and violence.
In view of Mrs. Hart's statement, there is now no need for me to solicit the assistance of the I.L.O., or to instruct our affiliated organisations throughout the Free World, to take further action on the question of working hours in Hongkong. In leaving the matter with the Legislative Council, I ask you to believe that it has only been with the utmost difficulty that I have been able to contain the question within the activities of this secretariat, and in so doing, I have had to risk being charged with a neglect of duty on a humanitarian issue.
It is my hope that the new legislation will mark the beginning of a new era of prosperity of contentment in Hongkong, and signal the start of such improvements as will clearly demonstrate that British rule is after all, so much better than a totalitarian system of government.
Yours sincere
GREENHALCH
General Secretary.