CO129-499-2 Canton situation- governor's despatches 15-1-1927 - 4-2-1927 — Page 119

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Enclo. No. 3.

taken from the Lan Kwok Yat Po of the 6th January, pro-

mulgating *temporary regulations for the prevention of

dispute between labour and capital in the province of Kuang-tung". I attach a note indicating the principal

anmendments made by the Council in the original draft.

2.

It is of interest to observe that the

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Canton Soviet, considering a strike to be "a legitimate

method of securing improved conditions for workmen", and

with the avowed object of insuring the success of strikes,

prohibits masters of shops or factories from employing

strike-breakers (see regulation A.1.), and also requires

workmen on strike to be paid by their masters for the period

of the strike (see regulation A.3). The Government further

aims in regulation A.4 at protecting "the organization and

unity of the labour unions". On the other hand, in group B

of the regulations the object of the Government is to curb

the lawless tyranny of the Labour Unions. The intention of

group of the regulations is to protect "small handicrafts-

men" fran undue interference by Labour Unions on the occas-

+

sion of a strike, and the regulations in group D (specially

added by the Provincial Council itself) is to safeguard

"essential industries".

3.

The persistent labour agitation in chinese

territory, of which geographically speaking this Colony

fonas a part, and the attitude of the Canton Soviet towards

disputes between capital and labour will almost certainly

sooner or later be reflected in the relation between

employers and employed in riong Kong. Accordingly, at a

recent meeting of the Hong Kong General Defence Committee,

* Not printed.

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