CO129-499-4 Canton situation- governor's despatches 18-3-1927 - 22-4-1927 — Page 35

TRANSLATION.

No. 150.

a

Enclosure No. 6a

From Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, (No.507)

Canton.

April 7th, 1927.

35

air,

1 am in receipt of a report from the Association unions

of Hong Kong of the 4th instant stating:-

"This Union is the Joint Union for all nong nong unions,

its object which is purely good being that of settling the

troubles of other Unions, of uniting friendly labourers and

of stimulating friendship. The movement is very lawful and

correct. In 1921 the Union's establishment was formally

permitted by the Hong Kong Goverment since when it has never

broken any laws. Now those responsible for the election of

its executive, owing to the union comprising many sub-unions

rendering a meeting difficult, decided to vote by ballot ins-

tead of calling a general meeting. To facilitate this on

27th March voting papers were sent out and on the 1st of

March at this Union the ballot was opened, the Hong Kong

Government having sent 6 chinese detectives to watch the

proceedings. However, unexpectedly, when the ballot had been

concluded the Hong Kong Government sent some tens of british

officers and chinese detectives who entered the union searched

everyone and prevented entry and exit. The next morning at

3 o'clock the members were released, all documents and fur-

niture being taken away and the union closed. It is requested that in order to protect chinese immigrants you will protest against this act of oppression against chinese workers".

i have the honour to observe that at the time the ballot

was opened there were government officials on duty observing the proceedings and that nothing unlawful occurred as is shown

by