CO129-572-6 Hong Kong Seamen's Union- proposed proscription 22-1-1938 - 30-8-1938 — Page 18

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publish any statement of accounts and the control of the

funds is completely in the hands of the officers, it would be surprising if malpractices of the sort did not occur.

In 1937 the outbreak of the war with Japan

But,

and the establishment of what is known as the United

Front brought an end for the time to the open conflict between the National Government and the Communist Party

in China. In Hong Kong the first effect of this new

policy was seen in the renewed activities of certain professional society organisers who had hitherto been content to conduct their activities underground. A new seamen's union, professedly unconnected with the Chinese Seamen's Union, was formed in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government were duly informed of this but took no action while it appeared possible that the revived union would confine itself to its proper sphere. hardly had the inauguration ceremony been held, when it was made clear that the objects of the organisation were in no way intended to serve the interests of the seamen on ships using the port. The union was organised purely and simply for the purpose of collecting funds for the prosecution of the war with Japan, for recruiting men for the Chinese army, and for prosecuting a boycott against the Japanese and fomenting strikes among the Chinese crews of ships proceeding to Japan. Its leaders at once set about calling meetings with the object of resuscitating the proscribed General Labour Union which was to organise a similar movement throughout the Colony. They were summoned by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and warned that activities of this kind would not be permitted in neutral territory, and that the revival of the General