2.
upon to recruit seamen from the New Territories. Happily, he knew one of your humble petitioners Liu Hing, then the Manager of the Man Hing Tong Seamen Lodging House, and succeeded in collecting a sufficient number of seamen within an incredible limit of time to take up all
20 the necessary duties. These seamen taking not into account in the END least the risks of being torpedoed or gassed gladly took up the un- enviable duties and discharged them so loyally that it is not an exaggeration to say that they have contributed in a large measure to the success of the British Empire in the great war. In consequence of their loyal services many of them were killed though the exact number is unavailable because their bereaved families have never applied to the Government for pecuniary assistance on account of such irreparable losses to them. And during the seamen's strike in 1922 the shipping concerns and the Hong Kong Government met with the same difficulties. Again, the members of the above Association or their forebears rendered similar services in spite of all threats and coercions, resorted to by the pickets or their agents of the Chinese Seamen's Union. Though the strike was then engineered by such unionists yet they were backed up by the stevedores and seamen con- tractors otherwise it would not have been so quickly and effectively brought about. In consequence of their grudge against the New Territories men for having failed to join the strike these stevedores and seamen contractors have since refused to engage any seamen from the New Territories. This is why so many New Territories men are thrown out of employment.
Your humble petitioners beg most respectfully to submit that although the various leading shipping concerns might have forgotten what valuable services the members of the above Association or their ancestors have rendered to them in their most trying times yet the local Government should not have overlooked the interest of those who have been thrown out of work through their having helped the Home Government and the Colonial Government in solving the problems of communication and transportation upon which the prosperity of the Colony chiefly depends.
Your humble petitioners therefore most respectfully beg to entreat Your Honour to take adequate steps in giving immediate relief to the members of the above Association by arranging with the various ship- owners and official departments concerned that may require seamen for services to give preference to the members of the above Association in the course of employing any seamen so that they as well as all others of the British may be encouraged to continue to be a reserve force in case of need when all non-British subjects may have right- fully abandoned the Colony in time of emergency. In addition to that your humble petitioners beg further to suggest that work may be given to the holders of Certificates of Nationality in all the mandatery possessions of the British Empire such as the Nauru and the Ocean Island where native labourers are required every year.
Date the 26th day of July, 1938.
To
The Honourable Under-Secretary of the
Colonial Office,
London.
We have the honour to be Your humble petitioners and obedient servants
bluing ifun
Cheung Yuen, c/o Mr. Hew Wah, 298 Clapham Road, London, S.W.9.
Page 20Page 21