CO885-11 — Page 14

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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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38. Though flogging has so far not been awarded, the Order has had a most salutary result, for cases of intimidation and threats with knives, at one time so rampant, almost at once decreased in number.

Searching for Arms.

39. At the commencement of the strike strict searches were made by the police in the streets for arms and bombs; and both were subjected to the pedestrians and people in motor-cars searches. In the middle of July woman-searchers were employed under the Labour Protection Bureau, referred to in para. 43, as it had been reported that considerable quantities of arms and some bombs were being smuggled into the Colony by respectably dressed women arriving by train. That some arms and ammuni- tion did get into the Colony is evidenced by the fact that one day a bundle of ammunition was found in Wyndham Street, having probably been dumped there to avoid a search.

Police Raids.

40. The police raids of whole blocks, with a cordon of soldiers thrown round the block, were extremely successful. These raids followed on the order to deport all strikers and idlers; and by going through the town in this piece-meal fashion Hongkong was rid of many of its criminals, and the resulting improvement is reflected in the police returns for the period of the strike. There have been fewer crimes of robbery and violence during this period than that preceding it.

Police Warning to Money-changers for Profiteering. 41. From the 19th June, when the run on the banks commenced. But this the money-changers began to charge exorbitant rates. was effectively stopped by a warning from the Captain Superin- tendent of Police and a simultaneous advice from me to several of the leading shops. As it is likely to occur whenever there is a sudden demand for cash, it would be as well to note that the money-changers could be prevented from profiteering whenever such a crisis breaks out again.

"Opposition Seamen's Union.

42. While the boats of various steamship companies were tied up in the harbour, some, if not all, of the boats belonging to the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company (General Managers, Jardine, Matheson & Co.) were able to clear during even the worst days of the strike, that is, from the 20th June to the 3rd July. This was made possible by utilising the services of an opposition seamen's union, the Hong Hoi" Seamen's Union, which was formed after the 1922 strike with Mr. Hallifax's encouragement, and the moving spirit of which was Chiu Chun- great ting who, in this matter of the Indo-China boats, ran personal risks, and had for some days to be protected by an armed district watchman. For the success of this work credit is also

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due to Mr. Ho Leung, the Compradore of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., who for a week had to work hard day and night in order to get the ships off. The success which has attended the Indo-China boats has taught us the lesson that with tact, courage and some police protection, steamers can be cleared in spite of threats and opposition in a strike.

Labour Protection Bureau.

43. The crucial fact in these disturbances was the absurd ease with which all classes of Chinese allowed themselves to be Instances of frightened by direct threats or general rumours.

The obvious this have been given and could be multiplied. remedy was to provide an organisation which would protect those intimidated, and also establish a feeling of confidence. And as the best defence is attack, such an organisation should strike fear no less subject to in the hearts of the intimidators who are cowardice than their victims. Our difficulty was to find the right people for the work, but fortunately on the 5th July General Leung Wing-sun, late of the Chinese Army, offered his services to me through Mr. Ma Chui-chiu, the Chairman of the Tung Wah Hospital. I was so enamoured of the offer that although it was late in the evening of a Sunday I immediately asked Mr. Ma to arrange for the General to meet Mr. Chow Shou-son, Mr. Li Yau-tsun and me in my house. We were so impressed with the General and his plan after an hour's conversation with him, that we took the responsibility of asking him to begin at once to collect the men he had in view, pending the approval of the Government. The next morning Mr. Chow and I waited upon His Excellency the Governor, together with the Hon. Colonial Secretary, the Assistant Colonial Secretary, and the Hon. Secre- tary for Chinese Affairs; and His Excellency readily approved of the scheme. An organisation was accordingly formed under the with offices at the name of the "Labour Protection Bureau,'

Wah Kiu Boarding House which was requisitioned for the purpose.

men were on secret service.

44. From the first day the Bureau was a complete success, and it became known to the public at once, though no mention was made of it in the newspapers. The General was allowed no more than 150 men, two-thirds of whom were sworn as special police so as to give them the power to make arrests. The remaining. Mr. T. H. King, who was then Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, very kindly allowed orders to the General to be issued from or through me to avoid the necessity for his daily attendance at the Central Police Station, which would have been undesirable on several grounds; and I take this opportunity of stating that I have never had the least difficulty in getting my instructions carried out. They were invariably given in the form of requests, and were always acted upon in the most loyal and efficient way by the General and his assistant, Mr. Siu Yam-po. In this matter I have been very ably assisted by Mr. Wong Tak-kwong who has been acting as "liaison officer" between the General and the police, and has been useful in various other ways. The General has nothing but the highest praise for Mr. Wong for his tact, energy and patience.

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