Seamen Strike

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In January 1922, over 30,000 Chinese seamen from Hong Kong and Guangzhou went on strike for higher wages. Led by the Seamen’s Union, the strike was the response of the union after the refusal of shipping companies to increase salaries. The strike greatly interrupted the shipment of food to Hong Kong and was declared illegal by the Hong Kong government. Eventually, negotiations took place and wages were increased.

In November 1921, the Seamen's Union, which represented all Chinese seamen, demanded wage increases to close the gap between the Chinese and the non-Chinese seamen who received much higher pay. The shipping companies refused to increase their salary, and the union reacted by going on strike starting in January 1922.