83 END
From the experience of attempted negotiations with the
Hong Kong Government in the past, we were always told that
we had to apply to the Colonial Office direct, knowing full
well, of course, that we had no possible means of doing
so at the time in question. In the meantime they set up
as a blind the Guild of Chinese Seamen which in Chinese
is (-------), comprising of seven instead of ten Chinese
characters as shown on the top of our letter papers.
There is already an increase of about three hundred
members since our affiliation to your Federation, and,
if we can succeed in re-establishing our Union in
Hong Kong we are quite confident that our membership can
easily return to the number of that enjoyed before the
fateful year 1927.
The whole affair is practically entirely in your
hands, and we sincerely hope that you will leave no stone
unturned to assist us in our endeavours to re-establish
our Union in Hong Kong. We shall, in the meantime,
also work very hard to attain our goal, but your co-
operation and advice is imperatively essential to our
success in the end.
Thanking you most profoundly in an ticipation
of your starting operations at your earliest convenience.
We beg to remain, etc.,
(Signed) by Chairman of National Centre and of
Canton Branch.)
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