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SUNDAY LABOR IN HONGKONG HARBOUR,
no doubt derive gain and profit from Sunday labour, are they prepared to make some sacrifice in order that. Sunday labour should be diminished here. As a matter of course, if a person works seven days in the week instead of six he will naturally make more money whether he works as a labourer or whether he is an employer of labour.
Captain Astrox-We do not get more money for working seven days.
His EXCELLENCY-With regard to those who are interested in Sunday labour, they necessarily make more money than they do by working six days in the week. Although there may be certain individual cases in this colony in which a person makes as much by six days labour, we shall find as a whole that if the seven days of the week were employed for labour and if remuneration were given for them instead of only six, naturally larger fortunes would be made and a greater amount of money amassed. Therefore the question resolves itself into this, whether those who gain by Sunday labour are prepared to make a certain sacrifice in order that Sunday labour should be to a certain extent diminished. In regard to the necessity of carrying on Sunday labour in this colony, I may say that there are no doubt more reasons which call for more work being done here than probably exist in many other places; and I would also remark that there is this difficulty in stopping the Sunday labour, which does not exist in many other parts, and that is that we have no Custom House. It is much easier where a port has a Custom House for a Government to close that Custom House, and by thus doing it practically, to a considerable extent, stops working on the day the Custom House closès.
Captain Asurox--We possess a Harbour Master's Office, where we pay light dues and where we clear, and it seems to me that if a law were passed here, the Harbour Master would be able to put a stop to Sunday labour as well as a Custom House.
His EXCELLENCY-Not so effectually as stopping work by the Custom House. Captain ASHTONx-If a man wants to clear his ship, he has to go to the Harbour Master, and he has to do the same when paying his light dues, and if he wants a permit on Sunday for requisito labour he can go there.
His EXCELLENCY-I should be disposed to think there was more difficulty in stopping Sunday labour by means of the Harbour Office than by means of the Custom House.
Captain Astros-In every part of the world there is some sort of supervision, by a Harbour Office, Police, or Custom House. In some places a Custom House boat patrols the harbour; in Hongkong the Harbour police patrol. So far as the actual enforcement of the law is concerned, I do not think there would be any difficulty. I think the Custom House argument will not bear one moment's consideration.
His EXCELLENCY--Speaking from my knowledge of other colonics, I think that the mere fact of closing the Custom House has a great effect in interfering with Sunday labom. If it was opened on Sunday and work went on, you would have much the same state of things as here.
Captain ASHTON--As far as the general work is concerned, the Harbour Master's office is almost the same as the Custom House. You have to apply for a clearance; you cannot clear on Sunday.
His EXCELLENCY-There is a difference between clearing a ship and loading, Captain Asurox---If we had a law passed prohibiting Sunday labour----
His EXCELLENer--That is another matter altogether. When a ship comes into port and finds that the doors of the Custom House are closed, and she cannot be discharged without the Customs clearance, that naturally stops Sunday labour. I cannot give you any promise that the Government is prepared to have recourse to compulsory legislation. At the same time, those concerned in the shipping interest who seriously consider they have a grievance, have their representatives whose opinion and the opinion of those who are in favour of diminishing Sunday labour can no doubt be brought to bear on those who live in England, who feel in regard to the Sunday as you do, and these can bring their influence to bear on their
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SUNDAY LABOR IN HONGKONG HARBOUR. representatives here. I believe myself that in this way, by the voluntary action of those connected with the shipping interest, who are willing to make a certain amount of sacrifice to secure the observing of Sunday, sooner or later, what you desire will to a very considerable extent be brought to pass here. It will require time. It cannot be done in a day or a month or a year. It is a question that will require no little consideration, and in regard to which you must be content to move by degrees. At the same time I do not look on the result as hopeless, and I do not think that the reply of the Chamber of Commerce should be taken as a conclusive answer that nothing more could be done.
Captain Astrox---Thank you, Sir.
His EXCELLENCr-As I mentioned to you, Lord Kuntsford conferred with the Governors of Hongkong and Singapore on this subject. Sir William Des Voeux, our Governor, will be back in a short time, and I am quite sure that he will be perfectly ready to listen to any arguments or any proposals that you may desire to bring to his notice. You will understand that placed in the position I am now, I could not take upon myself, pending his return, to promise that the Government would have recourse to legislation. I again repeat that I for one will be happy to take into consideration any proposals in regard to this matter that may be brought The question of Sunday labour is one of great importance, and if there is a general agreement among the members of the Chamber of Commerce, among those interested in shipping and in the community generally that it should be diminished--and the extent to which Sauday labour is carried on here is andesirable----] say,
if there is an earnest desire and real co-operation, if the question is well followed up, I believe that some steps may be taken to secure to some extent the object you now desire to attain.
before me.
YOU
Captain ASHTON----Do think that the Government is powerless to pass a prohibitive law ?
His EXCELLENCr---I do not think the Government of Hongkong is powerless to pass any law.
Captain Asırrox thanked the Administrator for his kindness in receiving them, and the deputation retired.-(From China Mail).
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