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38. Though flogging has so far not been awarded, the Order has had a most salutary result, for cases of intimidation and threats with knives, at one time so rampant, almost at once decreased in number.
Searching for Arms.
39. At the commencement of the strike strict searches were made by the police in the streets for arms and bombs; and both pedestrians and people in motor-cars were subjected to the searches. In the middle of July woman-searchers were employed under the Labour Protection Bureau, referred to in para. 43, as it had been reported that considerable quantities of arms and some bombs were being smuggled into the Colony by respectably dressed women arriving by train. That some arms and ammuni- tion did get into the Colony is evidenced by the fact that one day a bundle of ammunition was found in Wyndham Street, having probably been dumped there to avoid a search.
Police Raids.
40. The police raids of whole blocks, with a cordon of soldiers thrown round the block, were extremely successful. These raids followed on the order to deport all strikers and idlers; and by going through the town in this piece-meal fashion Hongkong was rid of many of its criminals, and the resulting improvement is reflected in the police returns for the period of the strike. There have been fewer crimes of robbery and violence during this period than that preceding it.
Police Warning to Money-changers for Profiteering.
41. From the 19th June, when the run on the banks commenced. the money-changers began to charge exorbitant rates. But this was effectively stopped by a warning from the Captain Superin- tendent of Police and a simultaneous advice from me to several of the leading shops. As it is likely to occur whenever there is a sudden demand for cash, it would be as well to note that the money-changers could be presented from profiteering whenever such a crisis breaks out, again.
Opposition Seamen's Union.
42. While the boats of various steamship companies were tied up in the harbour, some, if not all, of the boats belonging to the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company (General Managers, Jardine, Matheson & Co.) were able to clear during even the worst days of the strike, that is, from the 20th June to the 3rd July. This was made-possible by utilising the services of an opposition seamen's union, the Hong Hoi
Seamen's Union, which was formed after the 1922 strike with Mr. Hallifax's encouragement, and the moving spirit of which was Chìu Chun- ting who, in this matter of the Indo-China boats, ran great personal risks, and had for some days to be protected by an armed district watchman. For the success of this work credit is also
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