CONFID
The Commodore, Hongkong.
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17th July, 1925.
From
Date
To
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Subject
No. 283/053.
The Commander-in-Chief, China Station. 167
Situation at South Chinese Ports.
The enclosed reports from West River Gunboats are forwarded in continuation of my submissions No. 239/45 of 9th June, 1925, and No. 271/053 of 5th July, 1925.
2.
Generally the situations at the Southern Ports and at Hongkong may be said to be easier, but the uncertainty of events from day to day necessitate constant preparedness and watchfulness, the only thing that is certain is that any weakness or untoward incident would be readily explaited.
3. Since Monday, 6th July, no ♥ orkmen have appeared in the Dockyard or Naval Establishments with the exception of a few of the older hands who themselves were eventually forced to go out also. Consequently all work for the past ten days has entirely ceased, To-day, Friday, 17th July, about two hundred men have returned however, and these having broken their contract are being entered on the minimum rate of pay for their class of trade, the question
This of their lesing all former service is being considered. procedure is being followed in the case of all strikers with a fow exosptions.
It has been negessary for essential services such as the Gierating Station, Amping Station, Magazine Cooling Plant, sto., to be run by Naval ratings, and all tugs, harbour eraft, both Dockyard and Military have had to be manned in a similar way.
4. At the time of the strike 2.P.A."EUTHERIA" was in dock with both propellers and shafts out, but these were replaced and the ship completed and safely undocked by Dockyard Officials with the assistance of working parties from H.M.Shipw.
5. The enormous demands made by ships have placed a very fig strain..