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Unions had been closed, though some might have been evicted by landlords for default of payment of rent. As to (c), the Colonial Secretary gave
the history of the Constitutional Reform movement in the Colony and explained that it had been resisted by the Chinese representatives. His Excellency added that a demand for more representation could not with propriety come from any but the Chinese in the Colony. If in due course such a request were prepared, he assured Mr. Sung that it would receive his most careful and sympathetic consideration.
Mr. Sung next dealt with the economic terms namely (f) strike pay, and (g) reinstatement.
As to (f) His Excellency again pointed out that the "Strike" had no foundation in the economic position of Labour in the Colony and he was therefore unable t to see how he could make any recommendation to employers regarding payment of wages for services not only not rendered but withdrawn for no fault of the employers. As to (g) His Excellency expressed his firm belief that the removal of the boycott and all that that term implied would lead to such a revival of industry that there would be no difficulty in re-absorbing all the labour now withheld or withholding itself from the Colony. The Colonial Secretary pointed out the difficulties of direct reinstatement. Labour was in any case very largely shifting and transient and many industries had been greatly reduced and not a few extingui ised owing to the rupture of normal communications and life. Employers of skilled labour, such as H.M.Naval Yard, would be ready to
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re-engage
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