Encl.No.1.
CONFIDENTIAL.
30
Hong Kong Seamen's Union.
"The Hong Kong Seamen's Union" was inaugurated on the
15th August 1937. Its title differs from that of the proscribed
"Chinese Seamen's Union" only in the substitution of "Hong Kong"
for "Chinese".
The Yu Han Lok She.
The new union is the direct offspring of the Yu Han
Lok She a club which apparently began as a Seamen's benevolent
and recreation club for men working on board Empress Liners
but which in 1936 included seamen from other lines as well as
employees at Shamshuipo Barracks, the Navy, Army and Air Force
Institute, the Royal Engineers Mess and the Peak Club. On 15th
May, 1937, a manifesto was issued from the address of this
Club calling for the inauguration of a Hong Kong Seamen's
Union which would have three objects:-
Improvement of conditions of employment of seamen.
Support of the Central Government of China against
Japan.
(1)
(2)
(3)
Preservation of friendship between China and Great
Britain.
This manifesto came into the hands of the Secretary for Chinese
Affairs. No action was taken.
Establishment of the Seamen's Union.
A month later the Yu Han Lok She distributed notices
to seamen's lodging houses asking for signatures to a petition
for permission to open a Hong Kong Seamen's Union and calling
for subscriptions in aid of the Chinese seamen on the Dojima
Maru and their relatives. The petition was presented (with
$60 for the Dojima Maru) on the 22nd June. It was signed by
Fong Sai Lam as promder and by representatives of 61 seamen's
lodging houses. On 26th July a letter was received by the
acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs from the Canadian Pacific
Railways protesting against the activities of the promoters.
No action appears to have been taken beyond recording the
petition and the draft rules of the Union.
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