The Anti-French Labour Strike and Riots

It is an open secret that Hong Kong was a British colony between 1841 and 1997. Yet, in September and October of 1884, local Chinese workers initiated anti-French strikes that eventually devolved into riots.

In August 1884, war broke out between France and the Qing Dynasty over control of Tonkin in northern Vietnam. Although officially neutral throughout the conflict, the government of Hong Kong allowed French naval vessels to use its harbour for repairs and supplies. Local workers, however, sympathised with China and grew irate at the British for supporting France.

The crisis deepened when the French corvette La Galissonnière arrived at the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock in Hung Hom. After French torpedo boat Atalante harassed a local ship in the harbour, dockworkers refused to repair the corvette. Boatmen and coolies soon joined the boycott, refusing to provide the vessel with supplies. The government of Hong Kong cracked down by fining the workers. This heavy-handed response sparked public fury, rapidly turning a localized refusal into a massive general strike.

Tensions escalated until October 3, 1884, when crowds attacked labourers who were attempting to resume non-French tasks. When the police opened fire, at least one Chinese worker was killed and several Sikh constables were injured. In response to the riots, the colonial government deployed troops to restore order.

Eventually, the administration quelled the unrest by returning the fines to the penalized workers. Simultaneously, the government enacted the Peace Preservation Ordinance of 1884 to banish individuals carrying arms and to suppress organizations deemed harmful to public order.

As for La Galissonnière, it was ultimately repaired in Japan before returning to operation with the French fleet off the coast of Taiwan.