medal BM-1964-0116.1

Period:Unknown Production date:20thC
Materials:
Technique:

Dimensions:Diameter: 50 millimetres Weight: 21.73 grammes

Description:
Association medal of Hong Kong. Nickel plated. Ribbon with red, blue, black and white stripes.
IMG


Comments:Joan Martin 1964: “In 1930 the British Museum acquired a parcel of 47 Chinese medals, but owing to the lack of literature on the subject then and now, it has only recently been possible to learn sufficient about them to allow of their publication, both as a matter of interest and in the hope that it may bring out further information.All these medals, struck in various metals, have a means of attachment to the person and many have a ribbon. They were issued by associations in Hong Kong as an indication of membership. Nearly all bear a number which may be presumed to be the membership number of the holder, especially as one medal has a second number struck over the first.The Hong Kong associations were formed for various purposes, many being trade unions or clubs and friendly societies connected with particular trade unions. Others were social clubs, religious and charitable societies, sports clubs and so forth. Still others were groups of master men such as merchants, or trade guilds embracing both employers and employees, somewhat on the lines of the mediaeval trade guilds of Europe.It has not been possible to find out when these associations first came into being, though some stemmed directly from ancient guilds or were developments of them. By 1911, however, they were sufficiently numerous and some sufficiently disreputable for an Ordinance to be issued in that year for their registration, any not being registered or declared exempt from registration being thereafter regarded as unlawful. The Ordinance does not seem to have been applied very effectively and was superseded by a further Ordinance in 1920.The Hong Kong Annual Report for 1929 states that 150 labour guilds existed in the colony at that time with a total membership of some 100,000, but little information about them was published until a Registrar of Trade Unions was appointed in 1948, at the end of which year there were 97 labour unions registered, together with many other types of associations. The largest labour union, with over 7000 members, was the Hong Kong and Kowloon Restaurant and Cafe Workers’ General Union (see medal no. 45 below). Since the establishment of the Registry of Trade Unions, lists of Associations and their membership have been issued annually.The issue of medals by associations seems to have been discontinued, although the medals listed relate to associations in Hong Kong which was then, as now [1964], a British Colony. Many indicate some allegiance to the Chinese mainland by displaying the Chinese Republican Flags, basing dates on the foundation of that republic or having ribbons in the republican colours. Even since the Second World War a number of the names in the lists issued by the Registrar suggest that the respective associations have parent bodies on the Chinese mainland.Without the help of Mr E. G. Grinstead of the Department of Oriental Printed Books, British Museum, and Mr Tsang Tat Sing of the Registry of Trade Unions, Hong Kong, this paper could not have been written.”