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48. The employment of women stood at an even higher level than that of men, as prosperity was most marked in the light industries where the majority of employees are women.
Most of the factories run by female labour are unable to accommodate any more workers.
49. Unemployment among New Territory seamen continued at about the same level as last year. Some relief was afforded by the development of the Marsman Mining Concession at Shing Mun, and by the increased activity of the Hume Pipe Company's business at Tsun Wan and of the Hong Kong Brewery at Sham Tseng, both of which employ local New Territory labour.
50. 301 further certificates of Nationality and Identity were issued to seamen during the year, making 1,035 up to the end of the year.
Disputes and Strikes.
51. There were no strikes during the year and the only labour trouble which occurred was a minor dispute about the repatriation of certain Northern Chinese employed at the Chung Hwa Book Co. The Secretariat's proposals for repatriation were promptly accepted.
52. The number of individual disputes, as measured by those brought to the Secretariat for arbitration, increased somewhat but none were serious.
Cost of Living of Poorer Classes.
53. The Sino-Japanese War caused a serious rise in the cost of living. Up to July 31st there was a slight average rise after allowing for season, in the commodities included in the cost of living index. But this rise was very uneven. Whilst meat, vegetables, clothes and shoes rose in varying degrees, firewood and oil fell substantially. After July prices climbed rapidly to a peak in late September, at levels between 20% and 70% above the corresponding figures for 1936 with the exception of tea and oil which rose about 10%. After September prices fell off about 15% of the 1936 figures but were still in December 15% to 20% above the figures for 12 months earlier. The price of rice varied between 20 and 38% above the corresponding figures for 1936.
FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS.
(Table XXVI).
54. The industrial improvement, which began last year, was maintained. Except in the case of sauce and peanut oil, which were affected by the war in China, the supply of raw materials was ample throughout the year. There was a very large output
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48. The employment of women stood at an even higher level than that of men, as prosperity was most marked in the light industries where the majority of employees are women.
Most of the factories run by female labour are unable to accommodate any more workers.
49. Unemployment among New Territory seamen continued at about the same level as last year. Some relief was afforded by the development of the Marsman Mining Concession at Shing Mun, and by the increased activity of the Hume Pipe Com- pany's business at Tsun Wan and of the Hong Kong Brewery at Sham Tseng, both of which employ local New Territory labour.
50. 301 further certificates of Nationality and Identity were issued to seamen during the year, making 1,035 up to the end of the year.
Disputes and Strikes.
51. There were no strikes during the year and the only labour trouble which occurred was a minor dispute about the repatriation of certain Northern Chinese employed at the Chung Hwa Book Co. The Secretariat's proposals for repatriation were promptly accepted.
52. The number of individual disputes, as measured by those brought to the Secretariat for arbitration, increased some- what but none were serious.
Cost of Living of Poorer Classes.
53. The Sino-Japanese War caused a serious rise in the cost of living. Up to July 31st there was a light average rise after allowing for season, in the commodities included in the cost of living index. But this rise was very uneven. Whilst meat, vegetables, clothes and shoes rose in varying degrees, firewood and oil fell substantially. After July prices climbed rapidly to a peak in late September, at levels between 20% and 70% above the corresponding figures for 1936 with the exception of tea and oil which rose about 10%. After September prices fell off about 15% of the 1936 figures but were still in December 15% to 20% above the figures for 12 months earlier. The price of rice varied between 20 and 38% above the corresponding figures for 1936.
FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS.
(Table XXVI).
54. The industrial improvement, which began last year, was maintained. Except in the case of sauce and peanut oil, which were affected by the war in China, the supply of raw materials was ample throughout the year. There was a very large output
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