LABOUR MISSION TO CHINA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27442, 31 August 1954, Page 3

LABOUR MISSION TO CHINA

——— < BRIEF HOLIDAY AT , HANGCHOW 11 rfANGCHOW, August 29. ' The British Labour Party mission ' to China arrived today for a brief holiday at Hangchow, a noted beauty spot on the shores of an exotic bay in Chekiang Province, southern China. Mr Attlee and his seven colleagues travelled 100 miles south from Shanghai in a special train to this coastal city, which combines the features of an Indian hill town with those of a Swiss lakeside retreat. • Now nearing the end of their strenuous tour r the Labour leaders ‘plan to relax in Hangchow for two days before going on to Canton. They are due in Hong Kong on Wednesday. The 20-coach train which brought correspondents .reporting the tour to Hangchow from Shanghai was partly staffed by women. Best known is 26-year-old Tien Kwei-ying, who drives an' express in north-east China, and who gets the same wage as men—the equivalent of more than i£ 15 a week. Some trains are handled entirely by women, including . the daily “plush” service between Tientsin and Peking. The People’s Republic gives women the right to apply for any job previously restricted to men. Peking has many women bus drivers and there are even: women river pilots in the country, A woman announcer told, the passengers to be polite to each other and to use the racks provided for luggage. She reminded them to use the ash trays and litter baskets provided. “Regard the train as your own home,” she urged them. Between stops she gave excerpts from a leading article in the official daily paper and played records. The special coach in which correspondents travelled was comparable to English standards. The attendants who handled food wore nose and mouth masks like those used by surgeons and nurses. '