CO129-590-13 Hong Kong dockyards- labour unrest 26-6-1941 - 11-7-1941 — Page 5

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5

3.

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

Received

in

FROM HONG KONG Registry

FROM: Governor (Sir G. Northcote)

Secretary of State for the Colonies.

TO:

Cypher Telegram

D.

5th July, 1941. R. 11th

08.40 hrs.

.:

? M

No. 636 Secret.

Following is for your information.

There has been considerable unrest among organised and semi-organised labour here recently especially dockyards where warships and standard ships are being built. Wages have been substantially increased twice since April last in order to meet demands based on rising cost of living and recently strike at Taikoo was prevented by the resignation of European foreman against whom grievances were alleged.

Yesterday agitation began at the same dockyard due to the machinations of well-known agitator employee of the dockyard who falsely represented that he had been dismissed. In fact having failed to engineer dismissal by means of insulting behaviour he resigned. He has succeeded in bringing out enough shops to paralyse the yard and it was probable that other large dockyards would follow suit.

I have therefore authorised the arrest of him and his principal lieutenant under Defence Regulation No.18 and intend to expel them under Regulation No. 59A. Order under Defence Regulation No. 51B not applicable.

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