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RELIGION
charity centres, and 14 food conversion centres. The work for the care of children includes feeding programmes. A mobile clinic and a mobile canteen regularly visit schools and the Boys' and Girls' Clubs. Three handicraft centres, day nurseries and play centres are in operation.
Roman Catholic priests in Hong Kong number 308 and there are 628 Religious Sisters and 102 Religious Brothers. Catholics in Hong Kong were 158,419 according to the census of 30th June 1960.
The Catholic Centre and Catholic Club, opened last year by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Robert Black, in new premises at 15-18 Connaught Road Central, is available for information on all Catholic activities in Hong Kong.
Buddhism maintains a strong hold amongst the older Chinese and is far from dying out among the younger people. Religious studies are conducted in a large number of monasteries and nunneries, and in hermitages built in secluded places where a dozen or more inmates may reside and devote themselves to quiet meditation. Because of the accessibility of Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan, hermitages in these places are popular with people living in the urban areas. The better known monasteries are, however, situated in more remote and scenically pleasing parts of the Terri- tories. Thus the Po Lin monastery at Ngong Ping, Lantau, is reputed to have the best view of the sunrise and is well patronized at week-ends and holidays. Other monasteries which attract both devotees and sightseers include those known as Castle Peak, Ling Wan, Tung Po To, Sai Lam and Fung Ying Sin Kwun, all in the New Territories. At To Fung Shan, a hill in Sha Tin, there is the famous Christian Mission to Buddhists which aims to cultivate the Christian and the Buddhist faiths together. To meet the demand of the urban population, Buddhist Ching She (places for spiritual cultivation) and Fat Tong (Buddha Halls) have been opened in flats in residential areas. Sutras are also expounded under the auspices of various Buddhist associations in the urban
area.
Sarira, relics left after the cremation of renowned high priests, or living Buddhas, are treasured by Buddhists and as a result are distributed to the close followers of the priest. They are usually
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