REPORT ON THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE,
Enclosure 1.
236
The ostensible cause of the strike was a
dispute regarding the question of the wages of Chinese seamen, but there is ample evidence to show that the origin of the matter lay elsewhere.
2.
1
In November, 1920, Dr. Sun Yat-sen established
himself as head of the Government in Canton, and in May, 1921, he took to himself the title of President of the Republic of China. Realising the latent possibilities in the exploitation
of labour after the European example Dr. Sun Yat-sen had set himself from the outset to play the demagogue. He was the founder and he remains the head of the Kwok Man Tong or
People's Party, an organisation holding and practising most
extreme labour principles, and in Canton he set himself to
consolidate his position upon the support of the labour unions, which he proceeded to foster and encourage.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen had always hated Hongkong. He had been banished from the Colony in 1900 and again in 1907,
and certain events in connection with the refusal of the
Hongkong Government to recognise his assumption of the Presidency added fuel to his animosity. He was not sorry to
find an opportunity of revenge in a grievance of Chinese
seamen trading to and from Hongkong on river and coastal
services.
4.
In January, 1921, there was founded in the
Colony the Chinese Seamen's Union, and in November last this
body sent to the various Shipping Companies a request for an
increase of wages for men on coastal and river steamers who
signed Hongkong articles. It was asked that there should be a flat increase of 30% or 40% according as wages were above
or below $30 a month. The Companies proceeded to make
enquiries, and they alleged that they were unable to find grievances among the men, most of whom appeared to be
unaware of the existence of the Union or denied membership of
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