160
Hours: 6.45 a.m.-11.45 a.m., 12.45 p.m.-5.45 p.m., occasionally works late till S p.m. with extra day's pay in three. Works every day of the week.
Lives in Pei Ho Street, Shamshuipo, number unknown, with mother, who works in knitting factory; shares bedspace with mother. Rent for the two women, two
dollars a month.
Three years in Hong Kong; came from Canton, where she worked in a similar factory at 35 cents Cantonese a day, until factory closed.
Mother and she have just sufficient income to live on. Does not remit any money to country. Cannot read or write. Is not a member of any guild or union.
(10) LEI PIU, male, aged 48, fisherman (found on water front at Aberdeen, Hong Kong).
At present unemployed, living with friend in Aberdeen; born in Macao, four years in Hong Kong since master's boat was dismantled at Aberdeen, now generally on junk fishing in Chinese waters, away from Aberdeen three days to a month at a time.
Wages:
$18.00 per month and food together with certain perquisites in respect of small fish worth three to five dollars a month. When in regular employment used to be paid six months' wages in advance.
Normally
Wife dead, two sons now at work, one daughter married in Macao. spends on an average about twenty days a month afloat; when employed sleeps on board. Wife when alive stayed in Macao. Junk carries over twenty persons including women and children--these consist of wife and children of owner and some fishermen's wives who do cooking.
(11) LAU SAU, male, aged 57, ricksha coolie (found plying for hire in Con- naught Road, Hong Kong).
In Hong Kong four years, from Swatow, Chiu Yeung District, Kwangtung Pro- vince, where he was farmer; was never a ricksha coolie till he came to Hong Kong; no work in country. Wife died last year in country. One son aged 27, farming in country (Chiu Yeung District).
Lives 100 Second Street 3rd floor-coolie lodging house, thirteen coolies divide rent of floor, $17.00, between them.
Hires ricksha from owner (licensee) at twenty cents a day, other coolie hires it at twenty eight cents a night.
Total earnings 70 cents to $1.00 a day out of which he pays for hire of ricksha and repairs.
Hours of plying for hire: 5 a.m.-3.30 p.m., night coolie then takes over ricksha.
Four meals a day: At home before starting out, cost fifteen cents; in street at 8 a.m., ten cents; in street at 12 noon, ten cent; 5 p.m., at home, 15 cents. Meals at home cooked by himself on charcoal fire.
As it is wet, wearing oilskin coat; material and tailoring cost $1.70. No ex- penses beyond food, clothing and rent. Sends five to six dollars home each month to son in country. Son does not earn enough. He is too poor to marry.
Is better off in Hong Kong than in Swatow. Cannot read or write.
Not a member of any union. When he came to Hong Kong looking for work clansman introduced him to ricksha owner.
(12) CHING YUK, male 31, salesman, Men's Department, Wing On Depart- ment Stores, Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong.