149 3
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young Chinese men and women who are quite unimportant and who have no real influence
in Hong Kong.
2. On the same day (12th March) the arrogance of the Seamen's Union received another set-back. Certain "union" stewards on the s.s. "Tatshan" (owned by Messrs. Butter- field and Swire), which was lying at her Hong Kong wharf preparatory to leaving for Canton at 8.a.m., saw fit to celebrate the day by post- ing on the ship's super-structure (where it would be visible to all comers) a placard de- nouncing the Imperialists" for sending troops to Shanghai. Other posters in praise of Dr. Sun were put up in other portions of the ship. The police on duty attempted to remove the first- named placard but were met with threats of violence from the crew and had to send for reinforcements. On the arrival of these, the offending placard and one other were taken down by the Assistant Direc- tor of Criminal Intelligence (Mr. L.H.V. Booth) and later referred to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. The first poster was confiscated and the other, being harmless, was returned to the Captain of the ship. The crew thereupon refused duty and the ship was finally removed from the wharf and anchored in the stream by European staff. An attempt was then made by the Union officials to call a general strike of river- steamer crews; but they appear to have met with no sympathy whatever from other crews. It is even stated that they were told brusquely
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