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been drafted and awaited promulgation at some later date.
Mr. Sung was informed that the substance
3.
of his visit would be duly communicated to the firms
concerned for their consideration, but what their
views would be on the matter it was impossible to
say, as these were obviously dependent upon a number
of technical points, which they alone were competent to judge.
4.
Though he stated that he would call again
shortly Mr. Sung has not so far returned to the
charge. He has however broached the subject with
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Company, Limited,
during the course of discussions regarding some other
matter, in which he was representing the 3eamen's
Union. He had, moreover, also approached Messrs.
Butterfield and Swire in this connection some six
months earlier, but in both cases he received a non-
committal reply. While willing to discuss any
reasonable proposal from authoritative quarters
which might result in the reduction of friction with
their crews, particularly where tea-boys are concerned,
the two firms are of one mind in regarding Mr. Sung's
proposals with considerable suspicion. They are in the
first place insufficiently convinced of Mr. Sung's bona
fides and disinterestedness in the matter. They have had
previous dealings with him in his capacity of representative
of union interests, and their experience of his methods
and general attitude only confirms their suspicions.
Moreover the unfriendly tone of certain articles recently
published in the monthly magazine published by the
headquarters/
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