RECEIVED
25 FEB 1927
TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong the Secretary
of State for the Colonies.
Dated 24th February 1927.
24
(Received Colonial Office 11.6 p.m. 24th February 1927)
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Mein
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2 MAR 192
Trade
y telegram of 16th February situation Canton.
Support of merchants against labour extremists has
extended to forcible removal of pickets from 800 shops
but communists are preparing for a strong counter-attack
and business continues on a hand to mouth basis with
no solid confidence.
Seamen's Union is working for a fresh strike
of Chinese crews nominal casus belli being punishment
in Hong Kong Police Courts of three Union delegates for
distributing violently anti-British literature ona ship
in the harbour. Real object is to start fresh general
attack on British interests in China in liason with
Shanghai agitators for this reason cargo requiring
to be warehoused and not immediately distributable
beyond reach of the agitators is avoiding British
shipping 60% of silk Filatures in Canton area reported
last
to be closing owing to losses this year and shortage in
new crop may be anticipated.
Hong Kong. Prospect of arrival of large bodies
of troops has given fillip to preserved food, timber and
metal trades, but commerce in general shares Canton's
misgivings.Labour Unions are being stirred up by head-
quarters in Canton to cooperate by general strike in the
above mentioned fresh outbreak. Maintenance of services
organisation is being tuned up but at the moment the
situation though critical well in hand.
telegram of the 23rd.
Unnumbered