CO129-572-6 Hong Kong Seamen's Union- proposed proscription 22-1-1938 - 30-8-1938 — Page 30

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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