40
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
The New China Enamelware (H.K.) Ltd. The strike at this concern, had its origin in a proposed reorganization of the factory which involved new rates of pay. The strike commenced on 9th December 1957 and continued until 10th January 1958, when work was resumed following the acceptance by the workers' representa- tives of concessionary proposals made by the management. These laid down conditions for the disengagement of all regular workers and their re-engagement on new pay rates. The management also agreed to make enhanced payments for holidays and for the New Year bonus. A further 5,000 man-days were lost during the year, making a total of 16,040 during the dispute.
The Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Co. of Hong Kong Ltd. The 200 electrical welders in this dockyard are employed through a contractor and not by the dockyard direct. On 28th June an argument between two welders of different political views develop- ed into a fight and as a result the contractor dismissed both men on disciplinary grounds. The left-wing faction immediately demanded reinstatement of the left-wing worker concerned and when this was refused, a number of workers started to go slow and refused to work overtime. Production began to be affected and on 3rd July the Labour Department, at the request of the management, attempted conciliation but without success. The management of the dockyard then issued a warning to the workers that unless normal working was resumed, they would take appro- priate counter measures. As there was no response to this warning, a lockout was declared at 7 p.m. on 8th July in respect of the welding section. After picketing the dockyard gates for three days, the union requested an immediate return to work on 11th July. The management agreed and work in the welding section was resumed on the following day. This dispute, which had no industrial background, caused the loss of some 850 man-days and involved a loss in pay to each of the workers affected of between $14 and $100. Other sections of the dockyard continued to work normally while the dispute was in progress.
Hong Kong & China Gas Co. Ltd. In 1956 this Company opened a new plant some three miles away from the old works in Kowloon. In October of that year some 80 workers, and in May 1957 a further 40 workers, who lived in the vicinity of the old works were transferred to work in the new plant. As there