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On 27th February Mr. Percy Chen enquired whether representatives of donors of
money collected in Canton, as distinct from a Comfort Mission would be allowed
entry following day. He was informed that if written application were made and
programme submitted consideration would be given to such request.
Comfort Mission
would not be admitted and even if permission were given to representatives of donors,
their visit could not take place before 9th March.
a.m.
that
This was position on night 29th February. Twould appear that meantime no
information had been given to Labour Unions or others interested regarding true
position. As far as they knew 1st March was the firm date for Comfort Mission's
arrival. On morning 1st March Govt sources were informed about 11.30
Chinese Chamber of Commerce had been advised by telephone from Canton that proposed
visit of Comfort Mission was postponed. Tis understood this information was passed to
Federation of Trade Unions. None the less it seems in light of subsequent events that
rank and file of unions and others concerned were kept in ignorance of true position
and consequently followed set programme by assembling at railway station at Kowloon
in time to meet three o'clock train on which they had been led to expect Mission
would arrive.
Meantime a welcome party had set out for border zone earlier in morning. This
party did not possess passes for frontier zone and were therefore held in its perimeter.
Mr. Y.K. Mok was however allowed proceed to border and later returned with his
welcome party to Kowloon railway station.
and crowds thereafter dispersed.
There he announced mission been postponed
and proceeded to do so
It now appears that feelings of frustration generated by concealment of facts
of situation were aggravated by spreading of false rumours that mission had actually
arrived and was being detained by police in border area. It also appears that group"
or groups in procession had come prepared to cause trouble This whole regrettable incident would not have occurred had organisations concerned been
given truth by Federation of Trade Unions concerning proposed visit of Mission;
more especially information on Saturday between 11.30
advised from Canton, proposed visit had been postponed and that party would not in
fact arrive."
and 3 o'clock that, as
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