HONG KONG & KOWICON TRATES UNION COUNCIL
67, Wellington Street, lst. fl.
Telephone: 20270 Cable Add. 6217
HONG KONG
Dear Brother,
42
951.5
SSEMCHOO HONA SZOVUL
£2 6 JE 100
7th, September 1950.
RE: AN APPEAL FOR MORAL AND MATERIAL
SUPPORT TO OUR DISCHARGED WORKERS UNDER UNPRECEDENTED AND RUTHLESS
OPPRESSION
In our recent letters to our international fellow trade unionists, we have emphasized the point that democratic labour move- ment in this Colony has factually made some considerable progress, However, we would like to add that this progress has evolved for the time being only in the aspect of organizing the local Chinese workers.
As matter of fact, lying ahead on the road of our demo- cratic labour movement there are still many difficulties in this Colony; our obstacles come from several quarters: the Communist abet- ment with workers, derisive contempt and oppressive greed of the general employers, and the intricate impracticability of some of the officially established institutions which have been inaugurated for the protection of the general workers.
As being easily discerned by any observer, the situation of democratic labour movement in Hong Kong is so delicate and so ten- der that any activities like legitimate strikes or open demands large and small-scale alike, are liable to be mixed up with Communist dema- gogism which intrudes opportunely into the scene of troubles in pur- suance of its subversive and agitative ends. Inevitably, the conse- quences will precipitate. some deplorable clash between our liberty- loving workers and the Governmental regulations.
Under the circumstances, for the sake of our ultimate objective of safeguarding our workers from falling into the role of cat'paw or dupes for the Communist agitation and subversion, and of contributing to peace and order, workers and their representatives under this TUC always try their best to contain themselves in the habit of toleration even to pay the price of self-sacrifice, as far as they are not actually dragged into a state bordering on immediate starvation.
Right after the departure from Hong Kong, of the Asia- bound Delegation of the ICFTU, from one of the local leading aud influential employers the general workers here have received an un- precedented and unreserved coup de main, pregnant with the motive of retaliation. This lethal blow, for the first time in Hong Kong, lacerates all the protective regulations and agreements for the