69. As with the token stoppages, it was the transport companies that were mainly affected. In the Tramway Company all communist union members stopped work but about half the work force remained loyal and a reduced service continued in operation. The two bus com- panies had a complete stoppage on the night of 23rd June but managed to rally a sufficient number of loyal workers to run reduced services from the morning of the 24th although in Kowloon, with 120 buses operating out of a normal 800, there was little more than a skeleton service. The Star Ferry Company, which had dismissed its dissident employees after the stoppage on 6th June, continued to operate its already reduced services. The Hong Kong & Yaumati Ferry Company which, in consultation with the transport office and the Police, had made comprehensive arrangements to combat intimidation, lost only a hun- dred deck-hands; most of whom were easily replaceable and the services were not vitally affected. About a third of the usual number of taxis remained on the roads.
70. Considerable inconvenience was caused to the public by these stoppages but the majority contrived to get to work somehow, some crowding onto such public transport as was available, others travelling in private cars, lorries and taxis and others on foot. Illegal taxis, or 'pak pais' as they are called, appeared on the scene in swarms and, with the Police turning a blind eye on their activities for the occasion, successfully filled the transport gap.
71. The utility companies and Government departments affected by previous stoppages had dismissed the communist elements in their work force and were mainly unaffected. There were many absentees at the two electricity companies and at the Hong Kong Telephone Company but services were maintained by the loyal staff remaining. A small proportion of the staff of the Urban Services Department (mainly labourers but including some drivers) failed to report for duty, while a further 200 men stopped work at Tai Koo Dock which had re- opened on 14th June.
72. The managements affected by these stoppages generally offered reinstatement to any absentee worker, other than those known to have been active in organizing the strikes, provided they applied for re- registration within two or three days. In fact, very few applied for re- registration and the deficiencies in staff had to be made good by new recruitment combined, in the case of the bus companies, by a re-
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