HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT. 1953
continues and in some cases has even increased. During the year the Registrar cancelled the registration of five unions, and there were in addition five dissolutions.
Trade unions continue to be overshadowed by political groups whose activity produces no beneficial results so far as the Colony is concerned and has a very damaging effect on the amount of genuine trade union work which is accomplished. It was thought, with the breakaway of a number of members from the left-wing Federation of Trade Unions and the formation of new unions in opposition, that non-political organizations might make their appearance. However, most of these new unions have merely gravitated towards the political right, which usually implies affiliation to or sympathy with the Hong Kong & Kowloon Trades Union Council. Few of them can truthfully be described as satisfactory or efficient trade unions.
The Trades Union Council is still the most vocal of the trade union groups, and claims, mainly by way of newspaper reports, that it is ever to the fore in championing the interests of the workers of the Colony. Unfortunately the claims put up seem to be all too often a façade to cover inactivity. Apart from the handful of officials who run the organization, very few of its Executive or Standing Committee members seem to have any idea of the extravagance of some of the claims made on its behalf.
A few of the unions affiliated to the Trades Union Council have, during the past year, taken genuine and independent trade union action in the interests of their members. However, as yet, no moves have been made to sever connexion with the Council.
The left wing Federation of Trade Unions has been noticeably more active and its welfare undertakings have been enlarged. During the past two years it has taken little interest
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