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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.

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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.