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Prohibition of Foodstuffs to Canton.
17. This measure must be admitted to have failed (at least on this occasion), mainly owing to an exceptionally good rice harvest which rendered Canton for once almost independent of outside supplies. There were, of course, other reasons. The chief was that there was nothing to prevent rice and other commodities going direct to Canton in the absence of a blockade, and that the consequence to be anticipated from our prohibition was a diversion of the trade from British ships and from Hongkong. There were also the considerations that the prohibition of the export of rice immobilised large resources at a time of strin- gency; that it might lead to financial losses through deteriora- tion if the commodity were kept in the godowns for any length of time; and it certainly did not seriously inconvenience Canton, whatever the rumours to the contrary. In the earlier part of August the Government wisely lifted the embargo, only stipu- lating that prices and stocks should be maintained at a certain. level.
Transport Control: Land and Water.
18. There has scarcely been any dislocation of our transport system on land, thanks to the smooth working of this Depart- ment under the capable control of the Honourable Mr. C. Mcl. Messer, O.B.E. The development of our roads and the large increase in the number of motor vehicles in the Colony in recent years, have converted what was once a vulnerable point in our armour into a strong point to-day.
19. The trams were suspended for a period of nine days, and the service was resumed on the 30th June with a limited number of cars running under Portuguese and European temporary drivers and conductors. Strong attempts were made to intimidate those using the trams, but the police and the Labour Protection Bureau (see para. 43) were able to cope successfully with these attempts. Later the Labour Protection Bureau was also able to protect permanent drivers and conductors at their work.
20. As regards water transport, the crews of the Star Ferry struck, as did those of the harbour launches and the motor-boats on the 27th June. A Department was formed for the issue of passes to Chinese wishing to cross by the Star Ferry boats. There were two offices, one in Hongkong under Mr. Sum Pak-ming, and one in Kowloon under Mr. Li Jow-son, both of whom discharged their duties with tact and discretion.
Labour Control.
21. Two days after the establishment of the Labour Bureau under Mr. G. M. Young, M.B.E., Dr. S. W. Tso was, upon my recommendation, appointed to be Assistant Controller in The work of charge of the Chinese side of the Department. these two gentlemen was eminently successful. In any strike the best weapon against the striker is his replacement either by In the a machine, as in transport, or by another worker. peculiar circumstances of this strike caused, as it was, by a lying
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