Thanks: Hong Kong Sikh community welcomes Canadian apology over spurned ship
Canadian consul general in city repeats premier Trudeau’s apology over decision to bar from Vancouver 340 Sikhs on board ship in 1914
The Sikh community in the city expressed appreciation for the apology given by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over a government decision in 1914 to turn away a ship carrying more than 300 immigrants from South Asia.
In a memorial event on Sunday dedicated to the victims of the Komagata Maru incident, the Canadian consul general repeated the apology in front of more than 1,000 local Sikhs at Khalsa Diwan Temple in Wan Chai.
This came after Trudeau delivered a formal apology in the Canadian parliament last Wednesday.
“We appreciate and consider it as a great step towards fairness and humanity,” said Sukhbir Singh, honorary secretary at the Sikh Temple.
“It has also given peace and happiness in the minds not only of Hong Kong Sikhs but Sikhs throughout the world,” he said.
Around 10,000 Sikhs live in Hong Kong.
Consul general James Burchett told the worshippers that the prime minister had offered a “sincere apology” and called for stronger ties between the Sikh community in the city and Canada.
“There is nothing wrong with apologising and admitting your mistakes,” Burchett told the audience.
The consul general said ties between Canadians and Sikhs should not end at his country’s borders, which motivated him to deliver the speech to Sikhs in Hong Kong. “We must look beyond our borders,” he said.
“In your presence today, we acknowledge and respect and applaud the contributions Sikhs have made to Hong Kong,” Burchett said. “I pledge solidarity with you.”
The incident, described as “a stain on Canada’s past” by Trudeau, saw a ship from Hong Kong arrive off Vancouver in 1914, only to have almost all of its 376 passengers – 340 Sikhs from India – denied entry due to immigration laws in place at the time.
After being held for two months, the ship was eventually forced to sail back to India where at least 19 of the passengers died in a skirmish with British soldiers.
“I hope as time passes and history teaches us, we might inspire other nations, other people to face the challenges of their actions and apologise for their past errors,” Burchett said.
