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several short streets, clect their Committee, called the " Kai- hing," which appoints guards from the inhabitants of the streets to patrol their area, and watch against the danger of arson. During the worst days of the strike each member of the guard did from two to three hours duty according to the numbers enrolled; and a very valuable public spirit was shown by the Kai-Chings" and guards. As an example of this, I instance Mr. Li Yau-tsun, the Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber Commerce, who, although 64 years of age and not over robust, took his turn as a patrol, in addition to something like ten hours of other public duties daily. This went on without our know- ledge for some time until it was accidentally discovered, and then stopped by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs who, in an appre- ciative letter, asked him to conserve his strength for more important duties.
"
The
51. These organisations should become permanent. street appears to be the natural unit within which the Chinese feel a common bond of interest; and therefore most valuable work could be done by the Kai-Ching in connection with sanitary measures and even the census. It would, in addition, provide a standing organisation for the development of an emergency police force in the event of further troubles.
Trade Maintenance Bureau.
52. Mr. Ho Kwong having practically completed his work as one of the Assistant Food Controllers, undertook in Mid-July the formation of a Trade Maintenance Bureau, with the object of facilitating the issue of export permits, and the working of cargo. At first outside coolies, under the protection of members of the Labour Protection Bureau, were employed; but the regular cargo- coolies, seeing a prospect of being permanently displaced, resumed work shortly afterwards. A threat to deport all striking tallymen brought them back also. The Trade Maintenance Bureau did very useful work until the end of August, when it became
unnecessary.
Counter Propaganda.
53. In paragraphs 7 and 8 I have touched upon the extensive system of enemy propaganda and its success. In the past we had been sadly deficient in this respect. On the outbreak of the strike the Chinese newspapers, if not actually against us, were at least afraid to publish what we wanted. The newspaper com- positors were among the strikers, and the only Chinese newspaper which continued publication during the strike was the "Wah Kiu Yat Po," which had to be hand-written and reproduced by lithograph for some days. But this journal was afraid to print certain propaganda for us even under police protection: at first the proprietor and the editor promised me to reproduce in the paper certain leaflets I handed to them, but when the compositors were given the copy they all left work secretly, and for two days the paper could not be brought out.
54. A few days after the commencement of the strike the Government, on my recommendation, established a bureau for
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