C 15
In October the painters went on strike. The strike was not a serious one or of long duration; it was conducted by the younger men and the older workmen took advantage of the annual Tomb Worship to leave the Colony and keep out of the quarrel; the masters were content to wait for the workmen to reduce their demands. A rise of 5 cents a day in wages—the first rise since 1901—was conceded. There was some intimidation and during the strike the apprentices and the men on yearly contracts did not dare to leave their masters' premises.
There was a small strike reported to me in one of the docks. It was soon settled but the interesting point about it was that it was started by the local men without consulting a large Union which has been lately formed, and the Union officials were opposed to it. This Union differs considerably from the ordinary Chinese workmen's guild, and works on very modern lines.
In each of these labour disputes the settlement of which is often a very tedious affair, I have been much indebted to the Chinese gentlemen who have readily responded to my request for their co-operation, without which no satisfactory or permanent settlement could be effected.
A Chinese leper woman found living at Aberdeen was received into the Rhenish Mission Leper Asylum at Tung Kun, and the entrance fee was raised by a private subscription among my Chinese friends. In future, leper women and children found in Hongkong will be sent to the Registrar General to arrange for their welfare, if possible.
An arrangement has been made to assist the Secretary for Chinese Affairs in Singapore in the repatriation of certain classes of Chinese: the allowances due to those who are to land at Hongkong will be sent to this office, to prevent the men spending it on the voyage and arriving here destitute. In November a large number of decrepits were repatriated from Tong Kah through the Protectorate of Chinese at Penang; sixteen of these landed in Hongkong and were sent home.
Reports have been furnished on 24 applications for British-born Subject Certificates.
The issue of licences to letter-carriers carrying letters between Hongkong and the adjacent country districts of China which was instituted in 1902 and transferred from this office to the Post Office in 1906 has now ceased.
Confucius's birthday was publicly celebrated, and the day is every year more widely observed as a holiday. The celebration is a sign of the growth of a national spirit among the Chinese. Two of the other signs of the times are public theatrical performances by amateurs and amateur boxing contests.
There was a suggestion to boycott a line of steamers running to America, but the alleged grievances were redressed.