ENG-1957 — Page 69

OCCUPATIONS, WAGES AND LABOUR ORGANIZATION 53

of pay, but their pay was increased on a sliding scale, as was that of all other daily-paid workers in the factory. The majority of workers in other sections of the factory were on piece-rates before the dispute occurred and their pay was not affected. The number of man-days lost in this dispute was approximately 49,500.

The Hong Kong & China Gas Co. Ltd. This company experienced trouble on several occasions with the night shift in the water gas plant, which failed to carry out its work properly. After repeated warnings over a lengthy period, the management dismissed seven workers in February, in the interests of discipline. There was some opposition to this action from the left-wing Hong Kong & China Gas Co. Ltd. Chinese Employees' Association, but the management declined to discuss the matter and there were no further repercussions.

Hongkong Tramways Ltd. Early in the year this company published a comprehensive booklet entitled 'Con- ditions of Service 1957' for hourly-rated staff engaged-on daily or weekly contracts. The booklet did not record any material changes in existing conditions of service. The object in publishing it was to enable a copy of the conditions to be in the hands of every employee governed by them. The left-wing Hong Kong Tramways Workers' Union attempted to stir up opposition to the management of the company on the grounds that it had imposed new conditions of service without the consent of the workers. Representa- tives of the union sought an interview with the Manager of the company, but without success, after which they approached the Labour Department twice and left letters to be forwarded to the Manager. The Manager refused to receive the letters and the union was informed accordingly.

Kowloon-Canton Railway. A decision to change from the use of steam locomotives to diesel-electric locomotives on the British section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway resulted in a number of boilermakers and other artisans becoming