C 7
PASSAGE MONEY FUND.
(Table XXIV.)
TRANSLATION,
34. The total number of translations made in the Department during 1939 was 1,643 as compared with 1,386 in 1938. 903 of these were from Chinese into English and 740 from English into Chinese. In addition a large number of translations made in other Government departments were sent to this office for revision.
LABOUR.
35. The wave of industrial expansion which was noted in the report for 1938 fully maintained its level during 1939. There were 212 new factories registered as opposed to 93 closures and the total number of factories on the register at the end of the year was 948. The weaving and knitting industries continued to expand steadily, while the output of the manufacturers who export to the Empire markets was well up to standard. Certain factories, especially those engaged in manufacturing thermos flasks and bulbs for electric torches, found themselves unable to cope with the competition of cheap labour in China, which was intensified by the fall in value of the Chinese dollar, and were forced to close down but on the other hand several new industries have established, including the first match factory in Hong Kong. There was some difficulty in securing raw materials after the outbreak of war in Europe but the position was steadily improving by the end of the year.
36. The approximate number of people employed in registered factories at the end of the year was 57,500 which is a slight increase over the figures for 1938. It must be remembered, however, that this is only a fraction of the total number of workers employed in the Colony and there is no evidence of any great diminution in the number of unemployed whose ranks are still swollen by refugees from China.
37. There were no large building projects but the shipyards were busy and the year saw the construction of the two biggest ships ever built in the Colony. Military works created a steady demand for unskilled labour throughout the year.
LABOUR DISPUTES.
38. Disputes between the masters and a section of the workmen employed by the Chung Hwa Book Company broke out at intervals throughout the year. These disputes had no connexion with wages or conditions of work but were concerned with the displacement of a number of hand press printers by the introduction of modern high-speed rotary presses in the banknote and stamp printing departments of the company. After numerous fruitless negotiations the matter was eventually settled and the displaced workmen have now been repatriated to Shanghai.
39. A satisfactory example of the value of negotiation between organized bodies representing employers and employees was afforded by the sensible conduct of masters and men in the Hong Kong printing trade. Dissatisfaction with hours and conditions of work led the Printers Union to make an investigation and to lay the results before the Labour Officer. At his suggestion representatives of the Employers' Association and of the two Workmen's Unions conferred together and eventually reached a general agreement on terms to be enforced for the next six months. This period has since been extended by a further six months by which time it is hoped that there may be legal provision for the establishment of a statutory Trade Board to investigate this industry.
C 7
PASSAGE MONEY FUND.
(Table XXIV.)
TRANSLATION,
34. The total number of translations made in the Department during 1939 was 1,643 as compared with 1,386 in 1938. 903 of these were from Chinese into English and 740 from English into Chinese. In addition a large number of trans- lations made in other Government departments were sent to this office for revision.
LABOUR.
35. The wave of industrial expansion which was noted in the report for 1938 fully maintained its level during 1939. There were 212 new factories registered as opposed to 93 closures and the total number of factories on the register at the end of the year was 948. The weaving and knitting industries continued to expand steadily, while the output of the manufacturers who export to the Empire markets was well up to standard. Certain factories, especially those engaged in manufac- turing thermos flasks and bulbs for electric torches, found themselves unable to cope with the competition of cheap labour in China, which was intensified by the fall in value of the Chinese dollar, and were forced to close down but on the other hand several new industries have established, including the first match factory in Hong Kong. There was some difficulty in securing raw materials after the out- break of war in Europe but the position was steadily improving by the end of the
year.
36. The approximate number of people employed in registered factories at the end of the year was 57,500 which is a slight increase over the figures for 1938. It must be remembered, however, that this is only a fraction of the total number of workers employed in the Colony and there is no evidence of any great diminution in the number of unemployed whose ranks are still swollen by refugees from China.
37. There were no large building projects but the shipyards were busy and the year saw the construction of the two biggest ships ever built in the Colony. Military works created a steady demand for unskilled labour throughout the year.
LABOUR DISPUTES.
38. Disputes between the masters and a section of the workmen employed by the Chung Hwa Book Company broke out at intervals throughout the year. These disputes had no connexion with wages or conditions of work but were concerned with the displacement of a number of hand press printers by the introduction of modern high-speed rotary presses in the banknote and stamp printing departments of the company. After numerous fruitless negotiations the matter was eventually settled and the displaced workmen have now been repatriated to Shanghai.
39. A satisfactory example of the value of negotiation between organized bodies representing employers and employees was afforded by the sensible con- duct of masters and men in the Hong Kong printing trade. Dissatisfaction with hours and conditions of work led the Printers Union to make an investigation and to lay the results before the Labour Officer. At his suggestion representatives of the Employers' Association and of the two Workmen's Unions conferred together and eventually reached a general agreement on terms to be enforced for the next six months. This period has since been extended by a further six months by which time it is hoped that there may be legal provision for the establishment of a statutory Trade Board to investigate this industry.
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