The Canadian government had promised to joinall the provinces by railroad. B.C. became impatient when the railroad wasstill not built by 1880. The Canadian Pacific Railroad brought in experiencedChinese railroad navvies to start the western section -- from Eagle Passto Port Moody -- and in 1881 began recruiting Chinese labour directly fromHong Kong and China. From 1881 - 1994, 15,000 Chinese workers were broughtin.