Copy.
(C)
253
Government House,
Hongkong, 24th February, 1922.
Sir,
I have the honour to forward the enclosed copy
of a letter which has been received from the Managing Director of the Chinese Section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway.
2. As you are no doubt aware, the trade of this port has been paralysed for some six weeks past by a strike of Chinese seamen and cargo workers; and there is no immediate prospect of getting the men back to work. The difficulty of arriving at a settlement is enhanced by the fact that the strikers have migrated in a body to Canton, where they are maintained by funds supplied by sympathisers and are actively supported by the Kwok Man Tong party, whose flag flies over
the headquarters of the Seamen's Union in Canton,
3.
I enclose a copy of a report by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs which deals with the political aspect of the matter. I attach also notices published by the Canton Authorities relative to ammed intervention by the strikers for the purpose of preventing foodstuffs from reaching Hong Kong. The strikers are augmenting their funds by permitting steamers to run between Canton and Wuchow on a percentage payment to the Union, and it will be seen from the letter which forms the first enclosure in this despatch that the railways are being similarly victimised. The Canton Authorities appear to be taking no steps to assert their authority, and it is impossible to foretell to what lengths the strikers will ultimately go.
4. My immediate object in writing to you is to ask that the Ministry of Communications may be requested to take
His Britannic Majesty's Minister,
PEKING.
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