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May 3, 2015 -- Presentation by George Chong
The Hakka People in Jamaica（占美加）
Compiled by Oliver Lee & George Chong
Click link for complete presentation with photos
Ø Basic data
o Location: An island located due south of Cuba
o Size: 4,244 square miles, slightly larger than Hawaii’s Big Island (4,028 sq. mi.)
o Current population size: Just under 2.9 million.
o Hakka Chinese 0.2% (5440)
· China born 2815;
· Local born 4061
o Chinese Colored 5515
o Chinese population:
· Peaked in 1970s at 11,800, when about half of them left because of fear of Socialist Government, and because of economic decline.
· After mass exodus in 1970’s, population in 1991 = 5372
o Government: Independent since 1962, member of the British Commonwealth.
Ø In 1963, Chinese monopoly in business and manufacturing. 90% in Dry Goods, 95% in Supermarkets.
Ø In 1980’s to 1990’s New Chinese came from Hong Kong, speaking Cantonese and Mandarin, and backed by the Peoples Republic of China.
Ø History of Chinese immigration (mainly Hakka) 1854 –
o 1854 -- Several thousand Chinese laborers were recruited by Panama to work on the first attempt to build a Panama canal. Prevalent diseases in the Canal Zone caused the Chinese to move to nearby Jamaica. 472 arrived, most of them soon died.
o 1864-1870 -- About 200 Chinese were recruited from Trinidad and British Guiana on 3-year contracts to work in sugar cane plantations.
o 1884 -- 680 Chinese from Bao’an, Dongguan, and Huiyang, but also 20 from See-yip sailed from Macao westward through the newly built Suez Canal to Europe, then across the Atlantic to Jamaica. Sailed for 67 days.
o 1886 – Chinese workers went on strike because of bad working conditions.
o 1880’s—At expiration of contracts, many workers started to leave the plantations and started to open shops of their own.
o 1904 – established Chinese Belevolent Association to assist Chinese community.
o 1910 -- Restrictions on Chinese immigrants began: written and oral exam in English French, or Spanish; Physical exam; 30 British pounds as deposit.
o 1918—Anti Chinese riots – Burning of shops at Ewarton.
o 1924—Started Chinese school. Chinese children learning the Hakka dialect and culture. Weekend classes for those attending regular English
o 1940 -- Chinese banned from entry, except for diplomats, tourists, and students.
o 1947 -- Annual quota of 20 Chinese immigrants
o 1950’s—Many Chinese Jamaican migrated to the U.K.
o 1956 -- Chinese quota abolished.
o 1965—Riots in Kingston, capital of Jamaica. Directed at Chinese businesses and people.
o 1970 and after -- Jamaica’s economy declined because of decline of aluminium industry. Many Chinese migrated from Jamaica to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver, New York, Miami. Majority went to Toronto, which now has a large Chinese Jamaican population. Very active in community affairs.
o 2000—Chinese Jamaicans in Toronto spearheaded the first North American conference of Hakka people. Subsequent conferences held 2004, 2008, and 2012.
The next conference is scheduled for Jul y 1,2,3, 2016
References:
1. The Chinese in Jamaica 1957 by Lee Tom Yin
2. Canadian Jamaican Chinese 2000 by Patrick A. Lee, Huntsmill Graphics Ltd.
3. Jamaican Chinese Worldwide 2004 – One Family. By Patrick A. Lee, Huntsmill Graphics Ltd.
4. The Shopkeepers- by Ray Chen , Periwinkle Publishers (Jamaica)
5. Jamaica – Pictorial—by Ray Chen
6. Wikipedia
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