Hong Kong Seamen’s Union

The developmental trajectory of the Hong Kong Seamen's Union is closely intertwined with the destiny of the nation and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. During the early period of labour movement enlightenment and struggle (1922–1925)**, leaders such as Lin Weimin and Su Zhaozheng led the seamen to play a pivotal role in the world-shocking Hong Kong Seamen's Strike and the Canton-Hong Kong Strike. Entering the period of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World War II (1938–1945)**, the union actively engaged in national rescue efforts. Not only did they escort Dr. Norman Bethune's medical team northward and participate in the "Great Secret Rescue" to help stranded democratic figures escape from Hong Kong, but tens of thousands of ocean-going seamen also risked their lives under enemy fire to maintain maritime supply lines for the Allied forces, making tremendous contributions to the global anti-fascist war.

In the early days of the founding of New China and the blockade-breaking stage (1949–1970s), the seamen stepped forward once again, secretly escorting over 200 stranded democratic figures north by sea to attend the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to discuss the establishment of the state. For more than two decades after the founding of the People's Republic of China, tens of thousands of seamen braved the oceans to transport urgently needed import and export goods, breaking the Western economic blockade against China. Furthermore, during the Vietnam War, they answered the nation's call, defying dangers to undertake the perilous transportation missions of aiding Vietnam and resisting US aggression.

While actively participating in these grand historical processes, the union has always remained dedicated to defending labour rights and improving workers' livelihoods. Externally, the union resolutely opposed the exploitation of the contract labour system, took the lead in fighting for reasonable wages, and strongly intervened in unjust overseas imprisonments and anti-Chinese violent incidents to protect and rescue compatriots. Internally, it established canteens, medical subsidies, and schools for workers' children to resolve basic living and educational difficulties at the grassroots level, while also coordinating professional maritime training to ensure seamen met international standards and secured employment. **After Hong Kong's return to the motherland**, the union fully transformed into a solid cornerstone maintaining the prosperity and stability of the Special Administrative Region (SAR). It fully supports the SAR government in law-based governance, actively promotes the development of the maritime industry, and continues to safeguard the rights of seamen and support the overall national development strategy under the framework of "One Country, Two Systems."