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of the particular political party to which the leaders belong.

This has been

noticeable in the last few months on several occasions when these unions have

taken a line of action which has not been in the best interests of their members

but which has served to enhance the prestige of the leaders in the political arena.

On the whole, I should be inclined to say that these unions do fairly represent

the workers in the industries that they werve but there is a tendency for the

direction of union policy to fall more and more into the hands of a small clique

who are concerned far less with the interests of their members than with their

own position in the political set-up opposed to the K. M. T.

Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that our best policy is to encourage

the growth of these unions and of any others which may be formed and which may

affiliate themselves to this group. As I see it, we must do everything possible

to induce the Chinese worker to work out his own union from the bottom upwards.

That is to say, we should try to get him to realise that the union is something

made by himself and his fellow workers to further their own interests and not an

To this end I con- organisation imposed from without by an external authority.

sider that it is the duty of the Labour Office to give all the advice and assist-

ance that lies in its power but to refrain, as far as possible, from imposing any

direct measures of control. The workers must be left to work out their own form

of union although it is of course within our province to point out to them the advantages of certain lines of development such as for example the desirability of democratic control. I think that it is only in this way that we can ever hope to see in Hong Kong a trade union movement which will really be representa- tive of the wishes and interests of the working classes and which will take its place as a full partner in the industrial, economic and social development of

the Colony.

There

I must make it very plain, however, that, in my opinion, development will be very slow. A great deal will depend upon what happens in China. is strong evidence that the present Government, which is under the domination of the right wing elements of the K. M. T., is becoming increasingly unpopular with the Chinese people and that the KM T. itself is holding its position with diffi- culty. It is possible that the more liberal elements may succeed in obtaining a commanding position in the Government and that the KM. T. will find its powers and, what is even more important, its funds considerably reduced. Whether this will be possible without armed revolution I cannot say,

nor should

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