184
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
C.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
22
to bring into actual being the Utopia of anarchy they have preached so long. An attempt to communize Canton was made in May last year and narrowly failed. Recruits are now being gathered for a new attempt.
4. In the forefront of this movement is the Seamen's Union. Encouraged by its complete subjugation of the river steamer services (see my secret despatch of 24th December, 1928,* and my telegram of 10th February†) this Union is now engaged in forming definite sub- unions on the "cell" system in each river steamer. The Union pro- poses that the inauguration of each sub-union shall be celebrated by an entertainment on the vessel concerned while in Hong Kong harbour. One such entertainment was held on board the s.s. "Tai Shan" belong. ing to the Hong Kong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Company, on Sunday, 20th February. I enclose an illuminating report on the preparations for this event by Sir Shou-son Chow and would particu larly invite your attention to the effect of the British Labour Party's communications with the Nationalists. There were special reasons for Shortly the selection of the "Tai Shan" for the first ceremony: before Chinese New Year the police who were keeping a sharp look-out for strike agitators found in the crew's quarters of the "Tai Shan" a photograph of Dr. Sun Yat-sen with the usual slogans against imperialism appended. This photograph the officer concerned had removed to police headquarters, where it was examined by the Captain Superintendent of Police, who directed that it should be returned pro- vided the text was detached or obliterated. The crew refused to accept this offer and, shortly after, a protest was lodged with His Majesty's Consul-General, Canton, by the Acting Commissioner For After careful con- Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Seamen's Union. sideration with my Executive Council I came to the conclusion that, rather than provoke a strike on such an issue, it would be expedient to overlook in the special circumstances of this case the seditious nature of the text, and I directed that the complete photograph should be returned to the crew through the captain of the ship. This the Union regarded as a fresh victory over the Colony and the inaugural celebration of the 20th instant was correspondingly offensive. A further celebration is to take place in the Colony on another vessel of the same Company. I do not propose to prohibit it and in fact have at present no power to do so. But the crew have been warned. that there must be no anti-British or Bolshevist speeches or placards. If this warning is disregarded, I propose to take and use power to prevent any further celebrations of this nature being held in Hong Kong waters and so to declare the inevitable war between this Colony and the Seamen's Union.
5. At present the Union does not appear to be ready for a fresh strike or boycott, the threat of retaliation for the prosecution of certain delegates having failed to materialize (see my telegram of 23rd February). The same conclusion is indicated by the enclosed reportt published in a vernacular paper here of an entertainment given by the Union in Canton to representatives of the press. On the other hand the further reports† (enclosed) on the recent Labour Conference
† Not printed.
* No. 45 in Eastern No. 144.
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in Canton (see enclosure No. 8 to my secret despatch of 17th February*) show plainly that Canton labour does not intend to rest until it has established in Hong Kong a tyranny similar to that which it exercises in Canton.
6. I also invite attention to the enclosed report† from the Man Kwok Yat Po, Canton, of the appointment of Russian advisers to the Finance Ministry of the Nationalist Government.
C.30J01/27 [No. 48.]
No. 6.
I have, etc.,
C. CLEMENTI,
Governor, &c.
The Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the C'olonies.
(Secret.)
SIR,
(Received 13th April, 1927.)
Government House, Hong Kong, 11th March, 1927.
I have the honour to confirm my telegram of 10th March, 1927,‡ and
to transmit the undermentioned documents in continuation of my secret despatch of 25th February§ on the political situation.
(1) Translationt of an extract from the Man Kwok Yat Po, Canton, of 27th January, containing the report of an inaugural
oppressed races conference of representatives of the so-called “* held in Hankow.
"
(2) Translationst of articles published in a local vernacular paper of 7th and 9th February, regarding the appointment of Mr. Hung Yang Chi (Chinese characters) to be Commissioner of Finance for Kuang-tung and Deputy Financial Minister.
(3) Translationt of an extract from the Kwok Man San Man, Canton, of 7th February, reporting an alleged interview given by Mr. T. V. Scong, Finance Minister of the Nationalist Government, Attention is particularly invited to the to a Japanese reporter. doctrine of Asiatic solidarity propounded in the concluding section of the interview.
(4) Translation† of an extract from the Kwok Man San Man, Canton, of 17th February, containing the text of a circular telegram from the 4th Nationalist Army, regarding events at Hankow, Kiukiang and Shanghai.
(5) Translationt of a speech by Mr. Sun Fo on the Revolution and its objects, published in the Man Kwok Tut Po, Canton, of 15th and 16th February.
No. 4. † Not printed. ‡ C, 30003/27 [No. 50]: not printed.
§ No. 5.