Ingetting
affecting the Christian inhabitants that the Fourth Commandment, which the Christian Church professes to obey, forbids the imposition of Sunday work on the Stranger (or heathen) within thy "gates,
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The Customs authorities restrict it by heavy fees.
Custom houses at and Q-7 734 the Commerce and the As there are 2.0 Hangthing Hingapore Chamber local work Tee the children fan that the Time 0172/90 taking Heins. well as on If seems to basis of any Ink legislation on subject is not religious argument at all, but the physical argument that at least one day's rest in seven is good for be he Christian, Jew, Mahometan or Hindu.
This is admitted in the last Indian Factory Act, which provides that all operatives are to enjoy a holiday on Sundays, unless taken from this rule during the three days immediately before or after. Something of this might be applied to Hongkong (other Colonies with a mainly non-Christian population), & we might suggest it in reply to the objections (as to cessation of Friday work on Govt Contracts raised by Sir C. Des Voeux in GR1178/1922/32(III) at least as a ultimate aimed at, immediately principle to be aimed at, if not enforced.
In the matter of Sunday labour in the Harbour, Hongkong is behind the Treaty Ports in heathen China, where
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2 united voluntary action, many of them being merely agents, whose principals reside in England, have a Carte Blanche that is blind to what goes on at a distance I think there is a double reason for some sort of compulsory legislation, as suggested in [at p. 6 of their Brief] forbidding Sunday labour except in the discharge of Ships in an Emergency when special permission should be obtained to hear License fee.
The last sentence of this fragment of Proof reply of the New Harbour Dock Co., Sinjason shows that they would gladly cooperate with the Tanjong Pagar Dock Co., but by themselves they are helpless. It is certain, that the Tanjong Pagar D. Co. will never be moved by its mixed body of Shareholders to stir in the matter, & I see very little objection to Exercising an official majority to force through legislation. But whether or not this legislation is adopted, the Harbour Master should decline (Except in very special cases) to grant clearances on Sundays. Should not the Governor be so instructed?
W