7
You Ref. 3.
849
Sabenité obsons.
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In view of the general information
contained in this despatch, I am inclined to
agree with the Governor's view that the petition
is largely an attempt on the part of a small
seamen's recruiting association to capture the
business of the principal association in Hong
Kong, known as Wang Kee. In 1937 a similar
small association petitioned the Governor, and
actually stated that its object was to force the
Wang Kee firm to reduce its commission for finding
employment by getting Government backing for
themselves. The present petition, in asking the
Secretary of State to arrange with shipowners and
official departments in Hong Kong to give
preference to the members of this association,
from shows that it originates the same motives.
The Governor states that the policy of
the Hong Kong Government has been to decline to
support any particular recruiting agency, since
it could see no justification for exerting
pressure on shipping companies to engage seamen
through other than their accustomed agencies.
He
is also of the opinion that these small associations
are of no great benefit to the Colony. This view
seems to me justifiable, since the petition refers
to