Distorted Statements Corrected by Government: A Bill for $340,000 Compensation It being considered desirable to} correct distorted statements. concerning the 1922 seamen's strike in Hongkong, the Colonial Secretary the Colony- on January 21 issued the following communique) on the subject:
The Final Agreement was signed on March 5, 1922, and Clause 2 reads as follows "A date will be fixed for the general return to work. From time of leaving until such dete, men will receive half pay] recording to the new scale. Men may be re-instated on any their own Company's vessels oF such other vessels as may be mutually agreed upon. If positions are not available for mea. ready to return to work as above, ft is agreed that half pay shall continue for such period as the men are not employed, but not! exceeding five and a half (54) months from the date of the general return to work.—This half pay. will be administered from a Fund under the control of a duly appointed Administra-for The "Fund under the control of 'a duly appointed Administrator" is a reference to Sir R. Ho Tung's (generous) promise to provide such money as might be necessary for the payment of post-settlement half-pay, under the conditions of the Agreement. The payment of half-pay during the strike up to [the date of the return to work was 'a matter for the companies concerned. Tt was understood that! the Administrator referred would be appointed when cireumstances required his services, The Return to Work No date was actually fixed for the general return to work: for on the publication of the settlement the seamen in Hongkong flocked back to their ships at once. Those who had returned to Canton and the country during the strike returned in troops during the next few days, and as far as is known all found employment at once. The! officials of the Seamen's Union were given facilities to watch the signing on of crews: and- it was'
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