ABOUT 50 airport project mainland workers were ordered yesterday to return to work or face dismissal.
But the workers, who yesterday staged their second strike this week, said they would seek protection from Xinhua (the New China News Agency) tomorrow.
They are trying to claim back deductions from their wages for working at an airport railway site on Lantau Island. The Labour Department is investigating where more than $1 million has gone. The workers met main contractor Shui On Joint Venture yesterday but the company said it had paid them fully and had bank statements to support this.
A Shui On spokesman said: 'They cannot make Shui On pay twice. They have to come back to work tomorrow. If not, we will dismiss them according to the Employment Ordinance.' Leung Fu-wah, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said he had made an appointment with Xinhua officials after the meeting turned sour.
'I could only think of asking the mainland authority to look into the matter. Somebody must take responsibility for the missing money,' he said.
Some workers also filed complaints with the police about being intimidated by Chinese labour agents who had warned the workers not to make trouble.