c.1908 Pedder Street

Greetings.  As this was close to the water, I wonder if the man on the left holding something was part of the unloading party.  On Connaught Road West, 1950s right by the water, a large boat unloaded hundreds of sacks of rice.  Each coolie carrying one sack (weighing about the same as some of them) was handed a small wooden stick when he got off the boat.  After crossing the road, about 30 feet and merely seconds in time, he handed the stick to another person on the sidewalk before entering the warehouse.  Regards, Peter