1887-1903
COLONIAL REPORTS.-ANNUAL.
7
what are called "street coolies," who do odd jobs, carrying luggage, &c., whose services were obtainable. These men were employed by the police in stevedore and coaling work, while a number of men from the Hong Kong Regiment also rendered useful aid in discharging vessels, and six petty officers of the Royal Navy were sworn in as special constables to strengthen the water police.
On the morning of the 28th the hands at the Hung Hom Docks showed a disposition to join the strike. The police were quickly on the spot and succeeded in arresting two strangers, doubtless emissaries from the strikers in Victoria.
They could give no satisfactory account of themselves and were sentenced by the magistrate to three months hard labour as rogues and vagabonds, and the hands at the dock gave no further trouble. The few remaining hands at the East Point refinery also struck work on the 28th March, and on the same day a public meeting of the community, convened by the Chamber of Commerce, was held to consider the crisis. An influential committee was elected to deliberate and communicate its views to the Government. Several leading merchants addressed the meeting, which appeared to be unanimous in its desire to support the Government in its determination to grant no concession whatever to the foolish prejudices of the strikers. Meanwhile there were not wanting signs that the strike was breaking down. An offer was made to one of the largest shipping firms in this Colony by a Chinese to undertake the stevedore business of the firm within 24 hours on condition that he was guaranteed permanent employment as stevedore for five years. This offer was made on the 28th March, and on the following day similar offers were made to other firms.
The hands at the three refineries returned to work on the 29th March, and the Captain Superintendent of Police was able to hire 50 coolies for a local firm at $1 a day, and to engage 50 more at the same rate for another firm for the next morning, and more could have been obtained on the same terms if required.
Moreover the P. & O. stevedore now expressed his willingness to obey the provisions of the byelaws as regards registration. There seemed every likelihood that the strike was about to come to an end, but the well-founded hopes of an immediate termination of the deadlock was unfortunately frustrated by the ill-timed action of the committee appointed at the public meeting to which I have referred. The committee met in conference on the 29th March with a certain number of Chinese compradores and stevedores, and the outcome of that conference was an agreement to endeavour to effect a compromise with the recalcitrant coolies, the substance of which was that the owners of lodging-houses should be allowed to register instead of the head coolies. On the evening of the same day the committee, without previously ascertaining the views of the Government, or obtaining its authority for the measure, published and circulated a handbill in Chinese stating that they intended next day to recommend a compromise of this nature to the Government, and that they felt confident that their suggestion
Page 149
1887-1903
COLONIAL REPORTS.-ANNUAL.
7
what are called "street coolies," who do odd jobs, carrying luggage, &c., whose services were obtainable. These men were employed by the police in stevedore and coaling work, while a number of men from the Hong Kong Regiment also rendered useful aid in discharging vessels, and six petty officers of the Royal Navy were sworn in as special constables to strengthen the water police.
On the morning of the 28th the hands at the Hung Hom Docks showed a disposition to join the strike. The police were quickly on the spot and succeeded in arresting two strangers, doubtless emissaries from the strikers in Victoria.
They could give no satisfactory account of themselves and were sentenced by the magistrate to three months hard labour as rogues and vagabonds, and the hands at the dock gave no further trouble. The few remaining hands at the East Point refinery also struck work on the 28th March, and on the same day a public meeting of the community, convened by the Chamber of Commerce, was held to consider the crisis. An influential committee was elected to deliberate and communicate its views to the Government. Several leading merchants addressed the meeting, which appeared to be unanimous in its desire to support the Government in its letermination to grant no concession whatever to the foolish prejudices of the strikers. Meanwhile there were not wanting signs that the strike was breaking down. An offer was made to one of the largest shipping firms in this Colony by a Chinese to undertake the stevedore business of the firm within 24 hours on condition that he was guaranteed permanent employment as stevedore for five years. This offer was made on the 28th March, and on the following day similar offers were made to other firms.
The hands at the three refineries returned to work on the 29th March, and the Captain Superintendent of Police was able to hire 50 coolies for a local firm at $1 a day, and to engage 50 more at the same rate for another firm for the next morning, and more could have been obtained on the same terms if required.
Moreover the P. & O. stevedore now expressed his willingness to obey the provisions of the byelaws as regards registration. There seemed every likelihood that the strike was about to come to an end, but the well-founded hopes of an immediate termination of the deadlock was unfortunately frustrated by the ill-timed action of the committee appointed at the public meeting to which I have referred. The committee met in conference on the 29th March with a certain number of Chinese compradores and stevedores, and the outcome of that conference was an agreement to endeavour to effect a compromise with the recalcitrant coolies, the substance of which was that the owners of lodging-houses should be allowed to register instead of the head coolies. On the evening of the same day the committee, without previously ascertaining the views of the Government, or obtaining its authority for the measure, published and circulated a handbill in Chinese stating that they intended next day to recommend a compromise of this nature to the Government, and that they felt confident that their suggestion
149
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.