Canada’s PM Trudeau apologises for rejection of Komagata Maru migrant ship that sailed from Hong Kong in 1914

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised in Parliament on Wednesday for a government decision in 1914 to turn away a ship carrying hundreds of South Asian immigrants.

The Komagata Maru from Hong Kong arrived off Vancouver only to have almost all of its 376 passengers, nearly all of them Sikhs from India, denied entry due to immigration laws at the time.

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The passengers were hoping to challenge Canadian immigration law, which refused entry to any Indians who had not arrived in Canada via a continuous journey from the Indian mainland — nearly impossible at the time. The law was seen as a measure to stymie Indian arrivals. Officials refused to allow the Indians in, even though they were British subjects just like every other Canadian of the time. After 20 passengers who had previously lived in Canada were allowed to disembark, the ship was turned away.

The ship was eventually sent to Calcutta, and least 19 people were killed in a skirmish with British soldiers upon arrival. Others were jailed.

“Canada’s government was, without question, responsible for the laws that prevented these passengers from immigrating peacefully and securely,” Trudeau said. “For that, and for every regrettable consequence that followed, we are sorry.”