CO129-500-1 Canton situation- governor's despatches 18-5-1927 - 9-6-1927 — Page 79

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gentlemen also disappeared, taking with them the Union funds to the amount (so it is said) of $43,000.

10. The Hong Kong branch of the Union appears to

have shared the political views of its officials and, being safe from the forceful tactics of General Li

Chai-sum, announced that it refused to submit to re-

organization by Canton and intended to stand on its

own feet. At first sight this seemed a step in the

right direction, the most objectionable feature of the

Hong Kong Union's position in the Colony being its

control by Canton. But I was informed by Mr. J.F.Brenan, His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton, that the rear- ganization of the Union in Canton was in some way coupled with the revival of an older Seamen's Associa- tion (the Lin Yi She), which acquired a most

evil reputation for intimidation and murder during the

1922 Strike, and I began to consider seriously the

advisability of proscribing the new "independent'

Seamen's Union of Hong Kong.

11.

}

While the facts were being investigated, and

the opinions of those best able to advise were being

sought, the local Union simplified the issue by pub- lishing a notice repudiating Canton and declaring its adherence to Hankow. A press translation of this

notice is enclosed. It has been checked with an

original Chinese copy, obtained at the office of the

Union in Hong Kong, and found to be correct.

12.

The effect of this circular is to declare the

Hong Kong Chinese Seamen's Union to be opposed to anti- Comunistic measures, and to be subordinate to Union headquarters at Hankow, where its chief, So Shiu-cheng, now holds some kind of labour portfolio and is an

important

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