CO129-512-2 Political situation in China- and Canton 31-5-1929 - 13-11-1929 — Page 26

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amongst the employees of the Dockyards and other

industrial establishments. Information of clandestine

meetings was obtained but only after the meetings

had been held. Finally on the 29th of September

the birthday of Confucius some sixty persons were

rounded up as they were making their way to a rendez- vous at a small temple on the hillside near Kowloon City. Amongst those detained were several well known Communist agents, the balance being composed of employees of various establishments and unemployed persons who had as they alleged received a few cents to cover their expenses as far as the meeting place. From notes and draft speeches found on the persons

of the principals it would appear that the object of the campaign was to establish an organisation of workers' representatives independent of the existing

Labour Unions. One of the items on the agenda was

a proposal to agitate for an increase in the pay of Government employees; of these however only the

scavengers were represented.

8. It is doubtful whether there is any widely

felt discontent at present on which an agitation of

this nature could be based. Wages do not appear

to be unduly low having regard to the low standard of living amongst the Chinese. But the unsettled state of South China has undoubtedly led to the

influx into the Colony of a larger number of persons

than are able to find employment, and the few

outbreaks of labour trouble which have occurred in

the Colony of recent years have had as their object

rather