their opportunity for indoctrination and the dissemination of subversive propaganda. Seamen were also subjected to intensive indoctrination at Chinese ports and at ports in Japan and Australia where there were communist agents. This constant barrage had a considerable effect, particularly on those who were away from Hong Kong, and there were many seamen who were anxious for their livelihood.
78. The Marine Department again acted promptly. Before the stop- page was due to come into effect it issued a firmly worded notice to all seamen reminding them of the probable consequences to themselves if they absented themselves from work. It also set up a team of experienced officers whose job it was to talk to seamen and discuss with them their problems, to disseminate information and to investigate and dispel rumours. The Marine Department made special arrangements to keep the men at sea informed of conditions in Hong Kong. A news- sheet was published and distributed weekly and 16 mm films of recent local newsreels were distributed free to ships with Hong Kong crews. In the port, press conferences were held afloat to enable the foreign press and television representatives to see for themselves what the situa- tion was.
79. As a result of these measures the extravagant claims made by the communist press of the success of the stoppage were shown to be without foundation. In the first ten days 1,222 seamen reported for jobs through the Seamen's Recruiting Office and only two ships (where there were other considerations) were delayed through lack of a crew. Some crew members walked off their ships on arrival in Hong Kong but, with the exception of about a dozen ships that sailed short-handed, the flow of new applicants for berths was sufficient to meet all require-
ments.
80. Towards the end of July, the China Ocean Shipping Agency circulated a message to Hong Kong agents that the Seamen's Union's action was supported by labour in Chinese ports. Chinese cargoes awaiting transhipment in Hong Kong were detained by communist shippers in their godowns and no further cargoes arrived from China. Consignees in various parts of the world were advised by communist agents that, because of the 'port strike' in Hong Kong, cargoes could not be shipped.
81. On 12th August a Norwegian ship, the Hoi Kung, arrived at Hong Kong from Whampoa with 918 tons of cargo for local discharge.
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