X
198
"Hong King.
ANTED
FOR USE
Eastern 180.145.
COLONIAL
3
OF
OFFICE
5. Caps
Enclosure No.
གཏབྷཱཝ
END
His Excellency met the Representatives of the canton, 22 Macau, steamboat co this morning at Government house, con- sisting of Mr. Weall, Mr. Paterson, Mr. Staples Smith, Sir
and Mr Tohuson Robert Ho Tung, Mr. Hance, Mr. N.S. Brown, rllams (Seere
tary with the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Attorney-General
and myself. His Excellency put forward the view that the
present was a splendid opportunity for fighting the canton
Seamen's Union and urged the Jirectors to place a non-union
crew on the "Kinshan" when she is put back on the run, in which case His Excellency was prepared to renew the guarantee against trade losses due to strike or boycott, consequent on the employ- ment of a non-union crew, for one month from the restarting of the "Kinshan". After much discussion His Excellency went fur- ther and said that he would have no objection to the re-employ- ment, individually, of members of the striking crew of the
"Kinshan" on other boats provided there was a delay of at least two weeks before their re-employment
2. The proposal to place a non-union crew on the "Kinshan" was opposed by Mr. Jeall and Mr. Brown, but supported by sir Robert Ho Tung. After a long discussion the representatives of the Steamboat Company, except Mr. Brown, agreed to His Excellency's proposal subject to the following riders:-
Mr. Weall:
That he held to his opinion, but was prepared
to accept the Governor's advice.
mr. Patterson. That he did not agree with the Governor, but
the goodwill of the Hong Kong Government was of so
much importance that he was prepared to accede to
the Governor's wishes.
r. N.S. Brown. That he was unable to agree, but would refer
the whole matter to his Directors in London, from
whom he hoped to have a reply by the 22nd instant.
The matter stands over until Mr. Brown's decision is known.
Intd. .T.S.
Colonial Secretary.
29th April, 1927.