76
1st January, 1926.
13.
Last evening wo roccived an invitation to dinner fr
the Strikers Union for 4 o'clock today which wo attended.
There were about 40 of the strikers and the sov on of us,
Mr. So Siu Ching taking the chair.
The Chairman bogan by
a short spocch of welcomc
nd exprossod the hope that our dologation would hwo something to spork to thom by way of reply etc.
Mr. Li You Chuon roplicd shortly to the offcct that
s representativos of Chinoso merchants in Hongkong o
voro endeavouring to reach a settlement of the strike, and, s proviously arranged, I spoke shortly, emphasising that the notions of the labourers in endeavouring to improve their status doserved ovely sympathy and referring to the fact that I had taken part in the matter of tho
Pork and Race Course questions. I hopod that by closo
cooperation bottoon employers and workers, 11 misunder- standing would be rendered impossible.
Mr. Tong Chung-hi ( Chairman of the Affiliated Labourers' Union of China) who spoko in a Northorn dialect
and whose spooch was interproted by Mr. So Siu Ching spok
at groat longth as to tho origin of tho striko. Vory
shortly summrisod the offoot is as follows:-
China and Chinoso had always been trampled upon by the Europoons, and then the Chinese were murdered in Shanghai and elsewhore, labourers ina body bogan to strike out of puroly patriotic motives, since China was not strong enough to declare war. Then the Shamoon murdors. The strike was not directed against the Chinoso in Hongkong, but because Hongkong, liko Shamoon and Shanghai was within the British jurisdiction