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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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supplying the locomotives as proposed in paragraph 4 of my secret despatch of the 19th May.* The experiment was most successful.
7. Chinese money is now very cheap in the Colony, the rate being eight cents daily for every $1,000, i.e., 2.88 per cent. per annum. This is said to be a record. But there is no use for money, even at this cheap rate, because of the chaotic and anarchic conditions prevailing in China and the consequent bad state of trade with the interior.
8. Figures have now been compiled showing the effect of the dis turbances in China on the population of the Colony from the middle of February to the end of May. The excess of arrivals over departures by all routes for that period is calculated to be 50,401 persons.
following
9. The information:-
documents† are also enclosed for your
(a) An extract from the Kwok Man San Man, Canton, of the 11th May, containing a manifesto by Marshal Tseung Kai-shek to the Nationalist armies on the sins of Communism.
(b) A further extract from the same paper containing a report of the inaugural meeting of the Kwang-tung Special District Kuomintang Department.
(c) An extract from the Wah Tsz Fat Po, Hong Kong, of the 9th May, containing a manifesto by General Tsin Tai-kwan, who is in command of the new Northern Expedition against the Com- munists in Hunan and Kuangsi.
(d) A translation from the Tsun Wan Yat Po of the 16th May of an explanation issued by the Political Department of the General Staff of the National Revolutionary Army concerning the difference between Lenin's Communism and Dr. Sun Yat-sen's
Three Aspects of Democracy."
(e) Comparative tables of shipping for the first quarters of the years 1924 (pre-strike), 1926 and 1927, from which it will be seen that the Colony's shipping is well on the way to recovery from the effects of the strike and boycott.
e."
10. News is just to hand from Yunnan that General Tong Kaiju (Tang Chi-jao) has died of chagrin at the loss of his predominance in that province (see my secret despatch of the 13th May). One of the prominent Chinese War Lords thus disappears from the scene.
11. The proscription in Hong Kong of the Chinese Seamen's Union (see my secret despatch of the 1st June)§ has been cordially welcomed in this Colony and has caused no sympathetic reaction at Canton or else where. It looks, therefore, as if this action was well timed and -successful.
* O. 90001/27 C. [No. 8]; not printed.
I have, etc.,
C. CLEMENTI,
Governor, de.
+ Not printed.
C. 30001/27 B. [No, 27] :, not printed.
§ No. 15.
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ENCLOSURE IN No. 10.
(Extract from the South China Morning Post of 6th June, 1927.) CANTON LABOUR.
CUMBERSOME SET OF REGULATIONS.
COMPULSORY STRIKES.
(From a Correspondent.)
Canton, 2nd June. The Canton Political Council has just passed and promulgated a set of regulations governing labour disputes. The regulations are follows:-
as
1. The aim of this set of regulations is to settle disputes between labour and capital and therefore it must be strictly observed by both parties concerned.
2. Labour and merchants should report all grievances or disputes to the Government authorities for arbitration, and during the time arbitration is in progress no direct action should be attempted by either party, such as strikes by the labourers, and lock-outs by the merchants.
3. All agreements concluded by the labourers and merchants in the presence of the Government arbitrators should be effectively executed within three days, after which time the Government may take action to force such execution.
4. During strikes the merchants have the right to work themselves, but the number of merchants working in each shop or factory must not exceed five.
5. In case of strikes or other disputes, the labourers must not carry things away or cause damage to the shops or factories.
6. In time of strikes, the labour unions must not attempt to blockade shops or factories.
Power of Arrest.
7. The labour unions must not make arrests or commit other action detrimental to the liberty of others, but, in time of strikes, the labour unions may ask the police to arrest those who attempt to break the to the Labour general strikes and have these persons taken Department.
8. The labourers who strike for increase of wages may demand from the merchants, at the termination of the strike, pay during the strike. but the labour unions are not supposed to demand damages from or impose any fines upon the merchants.
9. The merchants must not dismiss their employees without proper reasons and in case their shops or factories discontinue functioning a month's wages as compensation should be paid to the workmen. Compensation of two months' wages should be paid for all instant dismissals. However, if the workmen violate the regulations of the shops or factories they may be dismissed at any time without any com- pensation.
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