890
SAILOR'S HOME
But it may be the authorities feared that seamen would also get into mischief ashore, or be attacked and robbed as happened to many of them and so for their own sakes kept them aboard in the early years, Certainly, this must explain the fact that seamen once upon a time could not go ashore at Hongkong after dark without a permit. In a regulation by Capt. Elliot, dated Macao, May 15, 1841, it was stated that the leaving of seamen and other persons on shore at Hongkong without the written permission of the Government, being attended with expense and danger to the public peace, it was declared that masters of ships convicted of such irregularity before the Chief Magistrate would be liable to a penalty not exceeding £100.
Seamen belonging to merchant ships found on shore after sunset, without a ticket of leave, were to be arrested and sent away at the charge of the ship.
The excellent accommodation ashore for ships' crews now provided is perhaps largely taken for granted by the general public. The history of welfare work for seafarers, and the development into the present amenities in the new Seamen's Institute and the Wesleyan Sailors' and Soldiers' Home, deserves delving into. In tracing the origin of the old institution we find, as expected, that one of our merchant princes was actively associated with its foundation.
The Sailors' Home at West Point was originated by Mr. Joseph Jardine, of the firm of Jardine, Matheson and Company. He set the scheme on foot and gave a sum of $20,000 for the purpose. The community provided further donations and in July, 1861, the Government made the gift of the site.
Building operations commenced in 1862, and the Home was opened some three years later. In the meantime, financial difficulties were encountered, and Mr. Robert Jardine, a brother of Mr. Joseph Jardine, gave a further $25,000 and undertook to carry on the Home at his own expense for three years. This provided a means of weathering the difficult period, as we know, most successfully.
12
The following are listed in 1847 under "European seamen's boarding houses" - John Wilson's (Queen's Road), William Griffith's (Lower Bazaar), William Kelburne's (Circular Buildings, Queen's Road) William L. Washington's (Queen's Road), and John Brown's (Queen's Road).
The modern reader may be forgiven if, on reading that list, visions of Shanghaied men arise. In less pessimistic mood, however, we can imagine seamen recommending friends in other ports, when they visit Hongkong, to put up at Bill Griffith's place in the Lower Bazaar. It might be noted that this Bazaar was the more or less Chinese shopping and marketing district towards the eastern end of Queen's Road, which has expanded into what we now know as Wanchai.
890
SAILOR'S_HOME
But it may be the authorities feared that seamen would also get into mischief ashore, or be attacked and robbed as happened to many of them and so for their own s kes kept them aboard in the early years, Certainly, this must explain the feat that seamen once upon a time could not go ashore et Hongkong efter dark without a permit. In a regulation by Capt. Elliot, dated Maoao, May 15, 1841, it was stated that the leaving of seemen and other persons on shore at Hongkong with- out the written permission of the Government, being attended with expense end danger to the public peace, it was declared that masters of ships convicted of such irregularity before the Chi Magistrate would be liɛble to a penalty not exceeding £100.
Sesmen belonging to merohent ships found on shore after sunset, without a ticket of leave, were to be errested end sent away at the charge of the ship.
The excellent accommodation ashore for ships' crews now provided is perhaps lergely taken for granted by the general public. The history of welfare work for seafarers, and the development into the present emenities in the new Sermen's Institute and the Wesleyan Sailors' end Soldiers' Home, de- serves delving into. In tracing the origin of the old institut- ion we find, es expected, that one of our merchent princes was actively associated with its foundetion.
The Sailors' Home at West Point was origine ted by Mr. Joseph Jardine, or the firm of Jardine, Matheson and Company. Ee set the scheme on foot and gave e sum of $20,000 for the purpose. The community provided further donations and in July, 1861, the Government mede the gift of the site.
Building operations commenged in 1862, and the Home was opened some three years later. In the meantime, financial difficulties were encountered, end Mr. Robert Jardine, a brother of Mr. Joseph Jardine, gave a further $25,000 and undertook to carry on the Home et his own expense for three yeers. This provided a means of weathering the difficult per- iod, as we know, most successfully.
12
The following are listed in 1847 under "European seamen's boarding houses" - John Wilson's (Queen's Road). William Griffith's (Lower Bazaar), William Kelburne's (Circular Buildings, Queen's Road) William L. Washington's (Queen's Road), and John Brown's (Queen's Road).
The modern reader may be forgiven if, on reeding that list, visions of Shanghaied men arise. In less pessimistic nood, however, we can imagine seamen recommending friends in other ports, when they visit Hongkong, to put up at Bill Griffith's place in the Lower Bazaar. It might be noted that this Bazaar was the more or less Chinese shopping and marketing district towards the eastern end of Queen's Road, which has expanded into what we now know es Wanchai.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.