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CO 537/1427
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00140
TAIKOO DOCKYARD AND ENGINE RING COMPANY OF HONG KONG, LTD.
Butterfield & Swire,
Hong Kong.
Messrs. John Swire & Sons, Ltd.,
Dear Sirs,
LONDON.
14th June, 1946
A
LABOUR.
Further to our letter of 7th June. Un Saturday, 8th. June, a"sit-down" strike commenced in Kowloon Dock. This strike was said to be a protest against the re-introduction of Contract work at Kowloon On Saturday night, 8th. June Kowloon closed their gates and posted notices to the effect that men wanting employment would be engaged later on time or on contract basis depending on the requirements of the Company.
On Monday morning, Loth June, we received an ultimatum from the representatives of the Taikoo Chinese "Recreation" Club, who claimed to speak on behalf of all the Dockyard workmen, to the effect that if the Contract System were not abolished immediately a strike would commence at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 11th June, and that they woul not be responsible for the consequence. We informed them that we had no intention of abolishing the Contract System and that, if a strike did take place, we would hold them responsible. Later the same day we had a very large deputation from the Contract workers, who assured us that they had no intention of stopping work and stated that the Anti-Contract Committee did not represent the Contract workers. Despite a good deal of propaganda from outside there was no stoppage of work here and we were very well pleased with the manner in which the Chinese Staff and the Contractors rallied round and assisted in nullifying the efforts of the agitators.
We are now satisfied that the present Taikoo Recreation Club does not represent the workmen and is merely a collection of young "hot heads", who attract to their ranks men who want pay without work. Unfortunately, these young men have had the ear of the Labour Officer who has given them much greater weight than they deserved. The representatives of this Club have now been told that we no longer
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CO 537/1427 Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your Archives' leafet
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