PORTRAIT
COLOURING
WE DO IT IN THE HOLLYWOOD WAY VIVID-ATTRACTIVE—SMART
FRANCIS WU'S STUDIO
GLOUCESTER ARCADE
CHINA
No. 33742.
For THE LETPAPER EXTENNIS, LTD.
ESTABLISHED FOR OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS
HONG KONG, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1947.
GENERAL STRIKE? Ultimatum Timed To Expire On Friday
Stormy Mass Meeting Held In Engineers' Institute
HONG KONG FACES THE POSSIBILITY OF A GENERAL ·STRIKE ON SATURDAY WHICH MIGHT IMMOBILISE THE COLONY'S INDUS- TRIES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES. THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE DE- CISION TAKEN AT A MASS MEETING LAST NIGHT ATTENDED 10,000 OR MORE BY DELEGATES CLAIMING TO REPRESENT WORKERS.
MONEY MARKET PANIC
Yesterday was about "the most hectic day on
the money market since the liberation. The ex- citement and wild gam- "Fling were duc entirely to rumours that Sterling would be devalued-and, again, that it would not. Wild buying started immediately exchange opened at 9.30 a.. Gold started off $381 a' tael, mid "A less than an hour it had reich.
*EL{ 537S. "PR Then someone said Sterling was not going to be devoluzd, and the price Immediately began "MHupple to below the starting point. "METhe tide was stemmed at $350.50, ind the market closed at $358.50
taci.
t'
The devaluation senre also sent Instres up to $15.30 a 100 after hey had opened at $4.50. When
The decision was carried after an extremely heat- ed three-hour debate. It was decided to call for the mass strike on Saturday if the Labour Officer "fails to give an acceptable reply" to- day to the third appeal of the Chinese Engin- rers' Institute for an increase in the minimum hasic daily wage from $2 to $5.
The meeting was attended by delegates from all the dockyards (both naval and commercial), various large. Industrial undertakings, the waterworks and several-though not all-of the public utilities.
Institute
In
It was unalmaualy resolved that, failing satisfaction today, an ultimatum will be handed in tomorrow. This will expire it pm, on Friday when, if there is still no change in the stua tion, a general strike will be called, to start on Saturday,
Engineers' Last night's meeting at le
It lasted Cum 11 pm. It was called primarily to hear a re- Connaught Read was attended by some 400 delegates. ports on the reply received from the Labour Officer on Monday to the Institute's third appeal.
The negullatora to the meeting that the Labour Officer had questioned the Institute's ability or right to represent the thirteen branches of workmen who had made the demand for an increase in basic wagen.
Heated Verbal Exchanges
The temper of the, meeting was far from gund. More than In the end, the once there were heated verbal exchanges.
more assertive, element prevailed and the decision to strike if the ultimatum was rejected was carried unanimously and with acclaim.
It was reported to the meeting that there were no delegates from the Hong Kong Electric Co., The China Light und Power Co.,
the Hong Kong Telephone Co, present,
It was resolved that every effort would be made to get the workers of these three utility companies to join in any strike movement which might be launched.
he landslide canic, stres teli Indonesia *AJA $13.80.
Chinese
National
Currency
ered at 14 cis, fur futures and ebels, for spot (for CN$1,000). "YUNN dropped to 13.6 ets. and 14.35
דיי
its at the close.
S. dollars made a big spurt
• "YUS.03. Sterling remained steady
$13.10 and Austrailan pounds be again unchanged ut $12.53.
ISH DOWN HIS PTHROAT
London, Aug. 11. Today's "fishing story"
came from Malaya. It
US MEDIATION OFFER MAY BE TURNED DOWN
Batavia, Aug. 12.
Informed Indonesian Republican sources at Jog- jakarta are reported today to, have indleated that the United States offer to arbitrate the dis- pute with the Dutch may be turned down. The report, carried by the Indonesian news agency, ANTARA, said the Republican Cabinet had dispatched a reply today following pro posals made by the US. Consul-General. Mr: Walter Foote, during his visit to Jogjakarta
yesterday.
The agency said intermed Re- planned for August 3, after the
reply ccaso fire, publicans intimated" the
The communiquo reported th was not a "big one that of the Republican Government
American offer but maintained patrois
Duten
Governor
To Visit Nanking
After visiting Canton
time before the end of the mouth, His Excellency Sir Alexander Granthums will By to Nanking for courtesy calla on Chinees lenders, the "China Mait" tearsed yesterday,
It is likely that Sir Alexan- der will also visit Shanghai either on the way to or from Nanking.
The Portuguese Colony of Muteng in wish on Sir Altzan- der's programme of courtesy vinite.
SEVEN-DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE
Sinkiang' Seizure Appeal
An appeal to the Gov- ernor-in-Council has been filed by 24 Chinese who were recently fined and had their goods con- fiscated by a Magistrate Police at the Central Court, the "China Mail" learned authoritatively last night.
The appeal was lodged yester- day by Mr. Marcus da Silva, on behalf of the 24 appellants, against the Magistrate's confis- cation order.
The appeal is a sequel to the record seizure of 35 tons of un- manifested cargo on board the
than
two Sinking Jena
35.
week ago by the Revenue De- partment, and has been fudged inder the Imports and Exports Ordinance.
WINDSOR ILGRE
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CALCULATING MACHINES also Anything and Everything for OFFICE MACHINES Excellent Barvion
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Tel. 21403
HONG KONG "Dictator" Bill
Passed By Commons
Shanghai, Aug. 12.
Wan Kung- chan, Chairman of the Shanghai City Coun- cil, is reported to have urged the peo- ple to wreck any newspaper plant re- ferring to the Com- munist forces as the "Communist Army" instead of as "Com- munist bandits.”
The Ministry of Information recently "suggested" that all Chinese newspapers do the same-United Press.
Kowloon
Electricity Rates Cut
I
London, Aug. 12. The House of Commons passed the Government's emergency economic crisis bill by a landslide vote of 178 to 63 early today after nearly 17 hours of consecutive debate on the measure. The bill now goes to the House of Lords where it faces the possibility of crippling amendments such as those which hamstrung the Transport Nationalisation Bill.
AVeary members of the House There were less than 300 received the final vote In dend | menibers In the House when the akonce.
vote was taken after an allnight Adoption of the measure on aegrion in which members kept
cafoloria The third reading, completing | the" Commons*
busy the Commons' auction, was moved serving scrambled dried egga by the Attorney-General, Sir and fish and chips. A scattering • Hartley Shawcross, after theofpectators watched the pro- Labour majority In the House | cecàling», including a party of had smothered ail but two of a French schoolboys who arrived sories of amendments offered by early in the morning. opponents of the measure,
In view of the lengthy and
debate in A Conservative amendment | acrimonique
the to the bill to prevent the use of | Commons, it appears now more the emergency powers to na- than likely that the House of
A report on the earlier stages of the debate, including Mr. Churchill's attack on what he called the "dictator bill" which
would result in "serfilom in prsa eetine," uppears on Pigo 3.
Further reductions in
tionallee the iron and steel in- | trims serve the interests and charges to Kowloon con-dustry was withdrawn without needs of the nation. sumers were announced a vote.
Lords, with its huge Conserva- Morrison, Mr.
arguing tive majority, will debate it far. last night by the China
against the anti-nationalisation beyond the Wednesday dead- Light and Power.
amendment, declared:
line.
Mr. Churchill is ex-
Appellants wore the persona A seven-day Memorial charged with attempting to ex- when Service for the Dead of port unmanifested cargo
the Revenue the World with special they appeared at
claim goods Department to prayers for those who
which were among the Relzed died in World War II is cargo.
start in. If the appeal succeeds, the scheduled to
Revenue Department w be Hong Kong on August placed in an embarrassing poni
Mail"
tion for most of the goods order- 23, the "China learned yesterday. ed confiscated have been distri- To make the occnslun of special | buted among hospitals and significance, a well known Chin- į charitable organisations, (se buddhist monk, reputed to be were than 100 years old, has been invited to conduct the services as. sisted by about 300 junior monka- The Service is being sponsored by the Tung Wah Hospital und will be held on the South Chinn Athletic Association's ground at Caroline Hill.
Fe: offeialing monk, Hui Wan, Land 140 of his disciples are cx- pected to arrive in Hong Kong by Monday. The services will comnience early morning and end after midnight with the monks taking turns at chanting prayers, Members of the public will be allowed to join in the prayers and to burn jos paper and jors sticks. The monks will also say special prayers for any individual on re. quest.
buddhist
The last memorial service for the dead held in Hong Kong was in Octo. ber 1936,
THE WEATHER
A moderate noticyclone covers Звуд
and the nelahbouring seas and extends to
E China. Pressure a law wver Central
the and Ching Manthuris
Carpines.
Bay Freeasi ;--Proch winds moderating; clutsdy:
STORM WARNING 2-A
Extern
E and SE buwery, all typhoun
at 9pm. yesterday was centred within 25 miles of 18 des. N 112.5 deg. E, mov. Ing WNW, at 10 knots. Wind Forces mehr echtre.
Yesterday's Weather Maximum RG.7 day. Fol Bilimum: 75.1 dem. Fal Sun hlavet 7,0 hours
Rainfall 11.0 mm, 1.03 Inch. Total
Incen 1-120K mau
15.90 fel MYCINED Sneley susu hut an 1481.0 sm. 834 Inches.
Reailing at
4 p.m.
got away" but about a contained an appreciation of the snipers were "hindering"
around Lahat, Southam...1950. 1007.1 m.b.
10 ■.m.
19.83 29.74 incl
78 70 deg. F.
Equal Now bridges ware Rel. Humidity".... O fish that leapt out of the that the Republie would not eas Sumatra,
the blown up on reads in the vicinity | Dew Palit ***** water and jumped down cel its earlier request to
Security Counci and Australia and the Republicans were still wing Direction... Eby NE the angler's throat.
concerning mediation.
orecting barricades.-United Press. Wied Force
The story in reported by the Brush Medlen Journal.
The angler was A Malay villager and he was taken to the Malacca General Hospital in
ANTARA said that aftor Mr. Foote loft Jogjakarta yesterday his proposals and sent a reply t the Republican, Cabinet studied 8.m. today. It did not specify I'very, distreshing condition.". to whom the decision was kent-
Dr. Lowin of the hospital,
presumably it was to Mr. Facto
related: It appeared that on by radio.
hour · previously the man had
A Daich communique today
Mangli, south
been drawing in his net in and 360 Republicans attacked a
rice field, and holding up the Dutch patrol near
15 - 20 knots.
CALCUTTA RIOTS
are:
There is no power
under
lens. If this now clause 'is ac-
The new rates, which will come into operation on Sept. 1. this bill to make new regula- pected to take the issue Light 44 cents per unit (com-cepted it will deprivo govern- to the people on Sunday dealing with the crisis and put cast, making a direct an- ment of a necessary weapon for night in a radio. broad-
iron and stee! companies in a favourable position compared swer to Prime Minister with other industries Attlee's "fireside chat"
Mr. Morrison assured the last Sunday night. House, however, that the pro- Mr. Churclll's: söcretary, said posed emergency regulations today that a broadcast has not will not be used by government been definitely fixed but that it to nationalize whole industries like that the thunder- but only to insure that indus voiced war leader will go on. the
alr.
pared with 49 centa).
Power 10 cents per unit (compared with 20 cents).
Proportionate reductions will *****/** Ca'cuttur Aur 11-be made in respect of lighting jured a renewed outbreaks of Territorio.
Sever were killed and 25 in- and power supplied in the New Hindu-Moslem rioting in Cal cufta today.
Bombs, brickbats and acid
The police were used when rival mobs of Eastern Calcutta- Hindus and Moslems clashed in fired 32 rounds-Reuter.
JAPANESE TOEXPORT PRECIOUS METALS
Fascist Gang
Hamburg, Aug. 11. Members of a pang said to have engaged in Fascist pro. paganda have been arrested in Western Sazony (the Soviet Zone).
The gang were reported to have painted slogans on walls and distributed pamphlets. One of those arrested นาง ail to have been forced to aign a "secrecy" · pledge, and to have been tortured into docility by one of his geconi ulicas, a former .Reuter,
SQUARE DEAL WANTED FOR EURASIANS
Shanghai, Aug. 12.
edge of his net, he peered over west of Ambarawa on the Sema-The inferior social position of British Eurasians,
rong-Jogjakarta highway.
to inspect his catch whereupon a In East Java, Dutch patrols.
fish leaped out of the water into
his mouth, and disappeared down
Whis throat.
The patient was operated on and soon recovered.
The fish was found to be 13 eeptimetres in length-Router.
ON OTHER PAGES
My Fave, Three-
Flory Debate in the Gemmons.
More TE Than land and Wales,
Colony's Children." Nine mpany Meofing,
were fired on south-west of Med- jokerto, but the communique madd
no mention of Wort Java.
Kidnap Plot?
even those who served in World War II, has become a live issue in an editorial and the cor- respondence columns of the English language. newspapers in Shanghal.
Washington, Aug. 11,y
The Far Eastern Commission today announced a ruling, under which gold, silver and other precious metals and precious stones may be exported from Japan and exchanged for cur- rency to buy raw materials needed to revive. Japanese industry.
The ruling is contained in a lengthy Commission ruling on interim import-export policies for Japan which also stipulated that "as soon as possible participation by private individuals. and corporations in Japan foreign trade will be authorized."
Press Freedom
i
The Hound of Commons accept- ed only one of eight amend- ments offered by the combined Conservative and Liberal op position-Liberal leader Clement Davis' amendment to guarantee the freedom of the pream and non-ruppression of newspapers under the energency powers, which Mr. Churchill had called
otallierten."
The debate, bitter and spark' ing by turn, drew a surprisingly sowil ypte at its conclusion.
Lobby correspondents belleve this is becausa inany members had a'ready started their holi. days (Parlament. originally having scheduled to adjourn last Friday); the fatiguing a'Inight session; the foregone conclu- slon of the issue in view of
The Commission ruled that It said that for the present. | Labour's' sound majority (only the only precious metals and no government or individua) | one member actually bolted stones which could not be used i will have contact with the from the Party vote);, and the' to establish Japanese credit Japanese government or Japan- fact that no party. had issued ahrund are those. "known to ese Individual citizens un'essa "Whip" compo ̈ling its mem- have been lopted or probab'y authorized by Gen. MacArthur, beras to be present for the vote. looted.".
--United Presn. United Press.
The Far Eastern Commission
reiterated that resumption of private trade in Japan will be
authorized only under Genera SOUTH CHINA BUILDING MATERIALS
MacArthur's strict supervision.
Rigid Curbs
war-
In a 16-point policy decision, the FEC Raid, that rigid curbs or exports could be enforced to prohibit maintenance or de- velopment of Japan's nusking potential However, ex- China Daily News asked for parts of tex.l'cs and other goods quure deal for Eurasians who in short supply throughout the were considered good enough world will be stimulated to the to fight and die for the same maximum practicab'e extent."
A directive to Gen. MacAr cause but not quite good enough thur authorized him to ascertain to be associated with socially the types and amounts of Japan- The raper deplored the distinc-
Imports......
tions between puro-born Britonsac goods available for export. and British subjects of mixed His programme, however, wil be subject to scrutiny "by tho parentage. The lasus developed with the| The worst culprits, he said,
A letter signed "Englishman" United States FEC and Inter- re-publication in Shanghai of a appeared to be those who spent complainct that his two chi'd- Al'ied Trade Board before it,
pleasantly in fron were not allowed to join a becomes effective; kita The communique reported that letter which a British Eurasian the war years Dutch patrols folled Republicanamed Lantle Wade ucnt to a Alexandria, Bombay, Colombo sports club because they wore
The FECould that cultural guerilla infiiration into the Pa-Hong Kong adwapapar, express- and Dohl. He said he found a Euruslans. Hug Kong, he said,
of these former was not the only p'aco where products. produced prior to dang area in Central Bumatra, ing his amazement to and after number.
Sept. 1, 1948 should not be.ox- and said the Dutch capture 20 absence from the colony of "friends" avolding him and "nobocracy" reigned. Republican soldiers armed with eight or nine years, "no change wondered whether this was duo writer in the China Press ported by the Japanood. Im- pointed out that Eurasians were porte to be authorized Include hatid grenades, weapons and am in the general attitude of the to his mixed parentage. munition.
still barred from cortain foreign these necessary to prevent such The Dutch claimed to have
clubs, notably the Shanghai widespread diarase and unreat found papers on the guerillas
Cub, They are oven, barred an would endanger the occupy which included list of Indono
Letters Coxpressing sympathy from a few clubs which sinceing forces, products required dians who were for the Datch" and were to be klinappel be the
for Wulce plight appeared in the war bave begin to accept to accomplieli occupation ob guatilia from Padang, Investiga
Hoyeral Shanghal vouwspapers Chinese as members-Assoolas jective and imparts requested. and the Britian owned North Red Press, NE
by the Japanene government, tion showed the operation was nil back....
populaco,"
Wade who norved in the war no an officer in the Royal Al Forca' (Pilot parnichutiat,, sald "thoughbery, the smugness and the lack of tolerance, are
"Snobocracy"
LIMITED.
The Directors of SOUTH CHINA BUILDING MATERIALS, LTD. beg to announce that the Company was incorporated on the 27th of May, 1947, under the Companies Ordinance, 1932, and is now ready to enter into contracts for the supply of cement concrete bricks, blocks, tiles, Spuncrete pipes, and. Hollow Blocks, manufac tured under Patent Licence.
All enquiries should be addressed to the Managing Director, South China Building Materials, Ltd., Room 204, Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Building: Tel. No. 30238.
ROBERT STEEN SMITH,
Secretary.
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