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also to inforce the "requisition" of labour (conscription); (2) to extend control of the Kuomintang party machine over labour for political purposes as part of the general drive in this direction in all fields; (3) to institute a policy of "education" of workers in the ideas being promoted by the Ministry of Social Affairs; (4) to introduce welfare and recreational measures, largely for the purpose of preventing labour unrest; and (5) to provide a system of "unions" to answer criticism of anti-labour policies and to secure approval abroad this latter strengthens the position of a Chinese clique at home; (6) possibly to forestall organizing action by the workers themselves, though it is difficult to judge how strong the pressure of labour may have been, and doubtless the network of secret police could quickly strangle any independent movement that might arise. "
These criticisms of the KM. T. organisation of labour in China itself are as true
to-day as they were in 1944 and it should be noted that they are made by an author-
ess who cannot be suspected of being anti-Chinese in her outlook
In these circumstances it is hard not to take a gloomy view of the present
position and probable future development of Trade Unionism in Hong Kong. I am not
altogether pessimistic regarding the future only because I remember the progress
that was made in 1940 and 1941 and I have some hope that with patience, and yet
again more patience, it may in time be possible to guide some of our unions into
development along independent and democratic lines.
There is no use, however, in pretending that the work is going to be easy
or that conditions to-day are favourable to such development. In 1940 and 1941 we
had practically no outside political influence to contend with while internally
there were genuine economic grievances which served to unite labour and to bring
home to it the advantages of combination and of reliance upon its own efforts with-
-out outside aid. Trade Unions were, in fact, beginning to shape their own policy
to meet their own needs instead of accepting dictation from without to suit the aims
of Chinese politicians.
To-day we have Chinese political influences at work within this Colony to
an extent and with a degree of intensity that I imagine is unparalleled in our
history. Apart from organized labour the K. M. T. have complete control of at least
fifty per cent of the vernacular press and exercise a dominating influence over
forty five per cent of the remainder. Merchant associations headed by the Chamber
of Commerce have shown that they too are affected, while it is common knowledge that
there is strong infiltration among the primary vernacular schools and even the Boy
Scouts have been pervaded by the Sam Man Chu Yi Youth Organisation, a very fair
imitation of the Hitler Youth Movement.
Y
Against this background we have to set a none too healthy economic situa-
There is undoubted inflation in the Colony which has been aggravated by the
influx of loose capital from North China. Cost of living is very high but wages of
tion.