1949-12-30 — Page 1

Portraits of Distinction

FRANCIS WU'S STUDIO

Gloucester Arcada

CHINA MAIL

No. 34473.

ESTABLISHED FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS

HONG KONG, FRIDAY, DECEMBER, 30, 1949,

EARTH TREMORS ROCK LUZON Commotion at

Widespread damage to buildings in Manila

NO CASUALTIES

Manila, December 29.

Luzon Island swayed sickeningly throughout its 500-mile length for two and one-half minutes today, and almost every able bodied person fled into the streets and fields seeking safety, as three sharp earth shocks rocked the Philippine island. Seismographs registered a maximum intensity of five in Manila and six

of Cabanatuan, 60 miles to the North.

Rail traffic

to Canton

Chiment reports yesterday Communiet

hinted that the

123 Canton' are Ruthuctres greparing to permit the re Dumption of through railway Kowloon lintween Ketvir

now And Canton which Broken at the British border Me t B Trevat, manager of the British section of

tulp Ihr "Chine yesterday that

The

Mall

joceeding velopment Through

karw nothing about the

An far да

negotiatione

but no

now had occurred. service

he

re

no was

WETS

de

Kowloon

and

between

WAN

suspended

an

4

Canton

Gctober Canton fell to the British Communista

The Authorities have been trying ever since to reopen the sor vice, but ware

the

bauthed

by

mc-

who, Communiata cording to some reports.

preferred to link the

flon

British recognition

Ques

of through trame with

of

Peking regime,

Sho

Hungary nationalises

foreign firms

all

Budapest, December 23.

of The nationalisation Hungarian enterprises employ- in- I mere than 10 people, elling all major foreign-own-

1:4

Concerns --Was

announced

a government decree puals... lished here today.

Compensation is promised to all owners, whether foreign or Hun- The decree lists among Karibu athen forsian moperiles nationa- Itse such frits as the Standard Electile Company, the Hungarian

No reports of casualties had been received sovan hours after the tremors began at 11.05 a.m.

In

Reports of domage to bald- Inks were widespread. Manila, at Beast five larg+ downtown structures had gap- ing cracks in their walls. Chunks of stucco carme crumb ling down. Three fires started

circuits by abort

in electric tines were quickly extinguished The flovernment seismologial, Mr. Arturo Alcaraz, estirnated the epicentre, deep within the earth, to be witzun 160-mille radius of Manila He refused to guess at the locaŭah pending a further cheek.

Alcaraz Tistes an intensity five shock at Lawag. In North Latzon, and four at Daet, in the extreme South.

slowly.

Byt within 30 seconde

standing Without support be. the fourth-

came

difficult In

and

Moor office of the Assoolated Manila Times in the Prose building. Light fixtures rocked back

2 atrol and forth, filing cabinet danced around the floor. Outside,

carrying tele- poies phone and power lines whipped. around. The nation slowed down then increased sharply, sending exgards into the streets

There were starter of several women trapped taller burattrugs and Tainting, but no Injuries wee rented.

streets rable in the narrow

Instantly Many jammed

their vehicles and atendened

from safely away

Ute sought swaying walls of large buildings. period.

WW.IN

factory office

Price: 20 Cents.

at the 'Company's here shown lined up in the corridor after being ejected from the

Striking workers of the Hong Kong Match factory, who demonstrated town office yesterday. oma. ("China Mall" Photo).

Red China

coal to

sh

Govt

asked

to mediate dispute

go to Japan in Tramways

Tokyo, December 29. A British trading firm has contracted to deliver 70,000 tons of coal to Japan from

Many remained fearful ister m the day na the Observatory wara- ed people in damaged bulletinage to watch for after-sticks which while usually of a less serious Reports from San nature, might cause the collapse Pampenga Province,

The nisnagar of the firm of of some of the weakened struc-

the uunke as hardest ever Dodwell and Company, Mr. James Mr. tures

felt there. In many cities thou-Ewing, said that the coal would

The power was off for a brief Communist-controlled territory

the

Fernando, described

in North China.

A pair of eight-storey courrete Banda knelt in prayer in the be brought to the Japanese port and steel buitelings, the largest in plazas and even in the open fields. of Kobe from the Källan mines, downtown Manila, showed ovi- where country folk sought re-North of the Chinos Communist dence of damage. Huge chunks of tuge.

city or Theatain.

stuero

LA

smoothly.

Check of buildings

fell all around the Far Almost every large city' report~ | A contract had been made with Eastern Hotel. A two-inch-wide 'ed buildings slightly damaged. the Japanese Government. The

Afier checking

extensively. Kailan Mines, which are 50 per crack appeared between the In- sular Life Insurance Building and the Red Cross officially announc-cent British owned and 50 per

five-storey neighbour, the ed that casualties were lacking.

cant Chinese, before the war sup- Filipinas Life Inmurance Bulking.

After

study of the recordet plied Japan upwards of 3,000,000 ** where before they had joined and reports, Alcaraz placed the tons of coking coal yearly the epicentre in the Ifugao region of bulk of her stool manufacture re- a mountain province about 15 quirements, rites North East of Manila where

Since the surrender, Japan has molten leva geysers spurted from

boen getting most of her coking cracks in the earth.

coal from America and India. nor Alcaraz reported #5 ufler.

British ships in the past few Fallure to settle by negotlution a two-inch crnck about 40 fee i shocks registered. One, at 6.22 months have been taking Kailan would only tend to aggravate dis long in another side. Other butid.

sufficiently p.m. was

strung to cool cargoes to Hong Kong.

putes in general, and this should the light Axtures in hips with smaller cracks showing

away the

Mr. Ewing' said that the com- be avoided, urged Mr. Cheng were being checked for four of Associated Press office. Alcaraz pany would charter anough ships

suit that Guam also reported a to have the coal delivered within! Mutual consent needed hidden damage.

started light quake-Associated Press.

three to four months. He said the company did not expect trou-

The Filipinas Builting ulso bad

The swaying motion

Pai's troops dodge French, penetrate into Vietnam

Telephone Company Vacuum Oll, Some 30,000 troops of General Pai Chung-hsi have

Radio,

Brown- Shell, Phillips Bover (a branch of the Swiss Engineering firm with headquar- 101s at Baionaargau, near Zurich), the British-Hungarian Jute In- textile fac- dustry and several torius.

A

HOW

drastic nationalisation

order was first announced with-The out publiefty yesterday to trade union feuders and worker mana- gers al factories by the country's economic chief, Mr. Erno Gero.

dodged French military outposts to penetrate into Vietnam territory controlled by the Viot- nam Communist leader, Dr Ho Chii minh, the "China Mail" learned lost night from sources in close contact with the Hainan Mili- tary Command.

sources added that the troops carried their arms across the border from Kwangsi and, will temporarily take independent action against the Vietnam Communists and live off the land.

Mr. Gera and the offietal decrec which followed his announcement both stated that the government had no intention of nationalising Emall traders' or the small handi- Vietnam craft

guarantees

The area overrun by the-

Communists, they

of French

Industries. The decree added, is one of the main rice

compensation to all producing areas

report their Indo-Chino. owners who must full assets and claims witinn 90 days Reuter.

Weather

They said that actually only 25,000 troops of General Pai havo been disarmed and faterned by the French milltary authorities along

the Indo-China-Kwangs

border.

At cap GMT 12. pim. HKBT) an anti-dinate officers, General Chiu Kai-

syne.esatred

The 30,000 troops, said the sources, are under the command of one of General Pal'a subor- ming. They will fight the Viet- nam Communists in their scif

"Anti-Com- styled capacity, an munist Volunteer Army."

N över Keyon T Chips, Japan and the neighbouring- sexs. Presauto remains low over the Western

Carolince

Today's Forecast --Hoderate or freeh E winds. Cloudy with bright: Intervals during the day. Miki

Yesterday's Weither som? Maximum 72.0 deg. Vah,

Minimum 0_ties. Fah Aunshine:"03 hours

Hainfall Trace," Total aineo fan. 1-

2007,2 mm. 88,57¿ind. so Arsinst an average of 25UKA MAMBA,EN 'Ina," TAN MANGE Headings, nå

The sources added that it is possible that ex-Emperor. Bio bil might later recognise, them

a such force and co-ordinate

U.S. advisers in Taiwan?

An American Military Ad- visory Group of 32 do... mabtilead officers has arrived at Taipeh, according to un- confirmed

Chineso

reports, yesterday.aded the

The reports added that Group has been sent, to. Tal- wan to assist the authorities In the planning and construo .tion of deforços against a posi

ibla Communist Invasion,

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Tel. '11483

Striking workers demonstrate in Central area

A five-week-old' sit-down strike by workers of the Hong Kong Match Factory erupt. ed into a minor,riot yesterday when more than 60 labourers, mostly women, do- monstrated at the factory's town offico in the Bank of East Asia Building. After requests to leave the building had failed, a large number of persons were arrested and taken to Central by the police.

They will oppear in court today.

Police assistance was sought by Mr. B. P. Poon, Secretary of the Hong Kong Match Factory, after cortior attempts to eject the workers from his office failed.

A police posse under Super- and his staff falled to parity the Intendent E. Tyrer arrived on intruders, the police were sum- the premises at 4.30 p.m. and, moned. after 10 minutes of futile conx- ing, ushered the crowd out of

the the office into

corridor where the men and women

food.

Among those watching the de- monstrations were many laden with

thermos Ansks and When the labourers were being hauled info the police van, some

gave vent to jeers and com- of these supporters rushed up to plaints.

them offering what they had After the labourers had been brought along. Some also, were rected from

the room, sume 20 en jumping into the vans pre-

the policemen fled along third sumably to be with an arrested But most of the food four corridor of the Bank of East relative. Asia Building, keeping the loudly carriers scurried away from the protesting crowd concentrated in vans as soon as the police came

down with the arrested

one spot.

Unofficial strike in London

Minor injuries Some minor injuries were suffer- by bath Police ned stikers dur ing the process vl e:ection when the workers stubbornly refused to heed the Superintendent's plea for order. Mr. Tyrer himself suf-

London, December 20. and fered cuis on both hands

Dock workers joined an un- wrists when the swinging glass cffcial strike of 30 clerits in/Lon- door of the office was broken as don's King George V docks today. the workers were being ejected.

The

to

Mr. Cheng Ching-non, Chairman of the Federa- tion of Trade Unions, yesterday approached the Commissioner of Labour, requesting tho the Government to mediate in the tramways

Outside the office Superinten By midday, more than 600 men -dispute which is today ontoring its third day,

dent Tyrer, through Interpreters, were not at work.

Four food ships awaiting un- the sought in vain

pacity labourers. He ther gave them time loading from New Zealand and Cheng was told that the Labour Federation,

to leave the like the Employers Federation, was only an

building. falling Australis, were without labour. which, he warned them, they They had cargoes of meat, butter,

eggs and other foodstuffs

and advisory body, and the Commissioner could

would be arrested. an only deal through it, but only with the parties period of grace was ignor general cargo, including wool.

The 30 clerks, checking one ed by the strikers. Mr. Tyrer's concerned in the dispute.

extended front cargo, struck work because, one ultimatum was Both, however, had a general not to go beyond the 15-mile-an-five minutes, and then eventual- of them did not belong to a re After that time, cognised docks union. Another 70 discussion on the situation. Mr. hour limit. Buses would on noly to an hour.

account take on more than the a final attempt was made by the working on the-other ships joined workers to them later and about 328 dock police to coax the Cheng said the root cause of the current labour unrest is the in- prescribed number of passengers, leave. This failed and Mr. Tyrer labourers, not concerned in the no matter how big the waiting ordered his men to arrest them. dispute, stopped work, being un- creased cost of living. He said he thought Goverdiment should do crowds.

The labourers still persisted able to carry on without the everything possible to

to bring about The taxicabs and, public hue and stood their ground. They re- clerks.-Router. a resumption of talks between the cars again had a day of roaring fared to go and had to be hauled disputants, as neither a lock-out business. Every available vehicle into the lifts by police constables. up. At the taxi stands, poople all the way. It was 5.30 p.m. be- were waiting for overy empty fore the buildings was cleared.

Mr.Poon, the Hong Kong car that came in.

Some of the cars took on

anid Match Factory's secretary,

London, December 29. full load of four passengers at a that the strike started five: weeke

the will recognise timo, and delivered them

ago when the workers demanded

Communist Govern- their individual destinations in

company.

Mr. Poon said ment tomorrow, it was learn- ble from the Chinose Nationalis The Commissioner assured him town for a round-sum charge of a 50 per cent increase in wages. Chinese

HKSB within every 15 minutes. blockade of the China-coast. The that as far as his Department war | HK$2 each. Generally they netted owered 10 per cent, but this wased here on good authority to-

refused by the workers,

day. Chinese Nationalist blockade ac- concerned it had always done lis

As usual big crowds still queued Early yesterday afternoon, the The decision of the Govern- tlon is believed to be almost non-best to bring the parties in any

up at the bus stops, waiting for workers assembled at the Bankment of India was communicated existent as far North as. Chin- dispute together with a view to perhaps an hour before they

and de to the British Government, of East Asia Building wangtao, the port from which coming to an amicable settlement, could got on. board. However,

India will thus be the first Kailan coal is shipped.

but this could only be done by the majority of people resigned manded an answer.

member of the British Common- their Increase wanted- Ilho Japanese financial DOWS- mutual consent of both parties. thomselves to stretching

wealth to enter into diplomatic "Nihon Keiza!" toklay.

lega, and as on the first day of

Mr. Poon said he told them relations with the Chinese Com- atated that 10 ships in the 6,000

lock-out a continuous Meanwhile, second day of the the tram

that the General Manager was munist Government. ton class would be chartered

tram took-out passed off yostar-stream of pedestrians walked to

Away in Glam and that he would Router.

dry without incident, as the and from the city the whole day Tramway Company again kept long.. thdir vohtalos off the streets bonding satilement dispute with their workers.

paper

No signs of missing Spitfire Pilot

a strlice would help matters. was almost continovaly booked During the descent they struggled RECOGNITION BY

The offer of the workers to run

Labour

at

►

INDIA TODAY?

India

According to a usually reliabla relay their demands to him and source, the Foreign Secretary,

Cawalt action.

Mr. Ernest Bevin, who was given dissatisfaction also

This apparently failed to satisf; discretion by the. Cabinot to of the spread to some 270 workers of the strikers who insisted on re-select the date for Britian rocogal-

Talkoo Dock's plumber shop yes terday, when, failing to obtain maining in the office premises. tion, has now definitely decided They asked to be suppiled with to extand full de jure recognition satisfaction from their contra food and apparently intended to to the Chinese Communists in the | the trams on normal service if the employer, they wention n

go-slow

When Mr. Poon' first week of January-Reuter. "squat" there. management re-opens negotiations strike. with them over their demand, was The men had complained to but evidently ignored by the Com- their employer about 10 days ogo

that they wanted

of cost pany.

The affer was made through the of living allowancy

fixed by Government Commissioner of Labour: 001

Yesterday's "dawn to dusk air and sen search for the missing RAF Spitore pilót ended without any signs of the plot or the stated last night: CARRENTON the management.

Land

crashed plane, it was officially Wednesday, and; was passed on to habilitation Sofia (ALTCOME

A number of RAF Spitares, Efforts made to contact the Sunderlands, Harvards, and two. Royal Navy destroyers took part

pay scale and

vico to be the same as that he

The demand Tramway management; on what corded. to Talkoo Workmen

Ignored, plans they might have to arrange and falling to see their contractor for an early resumption of the

employer tram service, were unsuccessful.

being

in the second day's nearch.

Polico launches are maintaining all-night vigil in the Mits Boy

The search will continue had, like the tramway men, their slow strike as from

on their

Mdfensterday

804

Other labour unions ¿who have day, they decided on Wednes domand for a special cost of live afternoothing bthin-men-Tust

At a

arta. today.

The pilot whose identity wasing allowance rejected, hold meat- still withheld yeaterday baled outings and promised both moral night at the Tulkoo Workers Club, from the plane when its engine and material support for the the men insisted on speing their failed over Mira Bay at about locked-out tramway men, but employer in person today and to 11 am, on Wednesday.'

HK MILITARY POSITION STRONG Mary Chad Singapore, December 28, The military posiah Hong Kong is very strong the morale of the people is high

their actions with his in trying cross the Hainan stralls from the and law and order is very

beyond deciding to press their continue their go-glow. tactics employers for reconsideration of until satisfaction is obtained from their demand nothing more dras-himering tie has us yet been decided upon by any of them,

Meantime, workers of the China Bus Company went a step further towards open rupture with the Company when they told the thanagement yesterday that they have set tomorrow. §. pin., deadline for a doll their demand.

as the

On Other Pages

a definite reply to Page: 2

Running as

Corresponde

Reminders

4.

'Oni Bridge Barclay Cinoma Page!

The buses ron as unual yester-Golombo Confere

ening

to eliminate Ho Chih-minh, Luchow Penisula in small nura- good, according to Mr. Falling a satisfactory reply. and to prevent the Chinese bera to prepare landing points fos Nicoll, Hong Kong's Colonial they said, the workers would de-

Secretary, who is on his way cide on their next course of Bo Paga. 4.9

tion a to enforce their demand. to England on leave. Communists from linking up the real divasion, with the Vietnam Communists. On the other hand, It is poss Mr. Nicoll and his 18-year-old **-Red boats smashed able that the Nationalists have son

December 27 and tidve been din Quoting, military sources, ver- destroyed innocent dahing floote on arrived in Sirigation nacular. Press reports from Hol which have ignored the official guests at Government Houté, how yesterday mid that Natlor warning that waters within 10 They are talling on the steamer day, though there were noticeable, Boon. Baro, si mati.1018. 1011.1 m.b.slist artillery on Hainan land infics of the island are military Canton today

moshed two concentrations out areas in which no croft is allow on, the question of rafuros in us that: the workers had started Page 3 Communist boats along the North ed except by pecial permission Hong Kong Bar- Nicolas ko-slow tactics. The buses were China Experiencing Famine

of the drivers UN Dolarne War on Jiffelt toast of the Irlandesa Softg from the Halini defence aus while it in our, tenditional polley Tema crowded, and there was no Page 10

to allow every citizen the Tomi-hurry un-the One concentration, it was added, thorities: ZEEMEN

PAGO 12 was located in Pu Chien Bay Olba, reports salt that Com-man: posible liberty to wave to complete their schedules on Oplum Trade Tang About 285 miles, North East of munist qubrilla, activity on the ground, the allustion: is such that DUE PASKALA

Tes men had decided, at their A and has increased frectintly and we must enforce:certain rostrie Holhowcas

the that afhaallot, Corp, # have had a time; to, kaip law mend, orders meeting on Wedioiday night, not Pa

Work inore than one shift, and Rumber of Murmillissɛwith themf. Reuter,

Equals 10.08 tsche

Rel. Humidity

Dew Point

Bag 14 deg. F..

MG 10 N54-Xnate,

Wind Direction

Wind Faros

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