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THE
SUNDAY LABOR IN HONGKONG HARBOUR.
· DAILY PRESS” ON BISHOP BURDON'S JUBILEE ADDRESS.
THE Sunday labour question formed the chief theme of Bishop Burnoy's address in the Cathedral at the Jubilee service on the 21st inst. Perhaps the occasion was not altogether a suitable one for a discourse devoted almost exclusively to a controversial topic of this description, though it might well have been referred to incidentally as one amongst other problems demanding attention. Putting aside, however, the question of the suitability of time and place, the sentiments of the Bishop no doubt found an echo in the hearts of most of his congregation. To some extent Sunday labour is a necessary evil, but all parties are agreed that it ought to be minimised as much as possible. Whatever may be said as to the policy or iapolicy of making the observance of Sunday compulsory, there can be no question that it is the duty of the Government to discourage Sunday labour and on no account to permit it in connection with Government works unless in cases of real emergency. Over and over again this view has been expressed by the Government itself, but Suuday work on Government contracts still
goes ou. In 1844, when Sir JOHN DAVIS was Governor, au order was addressed to the Land Office in the following terms:-"I am directed by His Excellency the Governor-in-Council to inform you that, with a view to the better observance of Sunday throughout "the Colony, he directs that Government works be not proceeded with on that day, and that all Europeans in the service of your Department be thereby afforded an opportunity of attending divine service. In all contracts made in future, you " will take care that Sunday is omitted in calculating the time necessary for the completion of the work contracted for." His Excellency directed this order to be published for general information, adding, "and ho expects that the course therein indicated by the Government will in future be followed, and the Sunday observed "with due respect by the Christian population throughout the Colony.' Similar instructions were issued by succeeding Governors, but they seem never to have been obeyed for any long period. In 1878 the Rev. E. Davrs, then Acting Colonial Chaplain, addressed the Governor-in-Council on the subject, setting out the arguments in favour of Sunday rest, and expressing the earnest hope that His Excellency in Council would be of opinion that all Chinese coolie and other labour on Sundays, under ordinary circuinstances, should be abolished in Government works, and that this proviso would be made in future contracts. In acknowledging receipt of this letter, the Acting Colonial Secretary was instructed to inform the writer that the Governor agreed with him as to the desirability, if practicable, of stopping all Sunday labour in Government departments, and would give the whole subject his best consideration. The result of this consideration was that the Acting Colonial Chaplain was a few months afterwards informed that instructions had been given which His Excellency hoped would put a stop to all labour of the kind in future, except that which may be absolutely necessary and unavoidable. If our memory serves us, there has been another order to a similar effect published since then. Yet Sunday work on Government contracts still goes on. Only on Sunday last we observed it in connection with the laying of the new water mains. While it is admittedly desirable that this work should be prosecuted with all reasonable speed, it cannot for a moment be contended that it is of such a nature as to render Sunday labour "absolutely necessary and unavoidable." Into the wider question of Sunday labour in the Colony generally we do not now propose to enter; we have on previous occasions expressed our opinion that it would be inexpedient to stop it by a compulsory Sunday observance law; but we have no hesitation in characterising Sunday work on Government contracts as a scandal and disgrace to the Colony. In the words of the Rev. E. Davys in the letter above referred to, it is the duty of the Executive "to relieve the Colony from the demoralisation caused by the sights "and sounds of Sunday toil under Government authority; and thereby set a befitting and widely influential standard for the practice of private individuals " and our commercial firms."-Hongkong, 29th January, 1891.
..
SUNDAY LABOR IN HONGKONG HARBOUR
THE SUNDAY SLAVERY QUESTION.
A Reply.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS."
ST
DEAR SIR, -Your leader of this morning on the much-vexed question of compulsory Sunday labour in this port, both ashore and affont, has, as you doubtless anticipated, cansed considerable comment in shipping and other circles. Whilst proving pleasant reading to shipowners, it has caused considerable annoyance to those who are often, too often, styled "common sailors." The latter are perturbed, not so much because your article partakes of the nature of dictation to Government in a manner adverse to those who have so earnestly striveu for that consideration in this matter which is due to them, but because you have taken to task (briefly it is true) the Right Reverend Bishop Burdon, on the grounds that the Cathedral on Jubilee Day was neither the time nor the place to express his views honestly upon what is not only a popular question par excellence, but also a disgrace to the Colony--a relic of an evil past and a parody on 19th century civilization.
I submit that the Bishop not only selected the most suitable place for bis address, but could not have chosen a better opportunity for toaintaining the necessity here of the observance of the Fourth Comraandment-the sacred edifice being crowded on that special occasion with people of all nationalities. However, it is not within my province, nor do I think it necessary, to enter a special plea for his Lordship, saffice it to say that the reverend gentleman's conduct has ever been irreproachable, and that his utterances on Jubilee Day have caused great satisfaction to an important section of the community who are sufferers by reason of compulsory labour on board ships in this port on the Sabbath, and who regard it as an unjustifiable invasion of their rights as subjects of the Queen,
Permit me to point out that although you say it is "inexpedient" for the Legislature to stop in and put a stop (as it is undoubtedly able to do at any moment without danger of unpleasant reprisals) to this obnoxious custom, still you have not yet explained the why or wherefore of this inexpediency. Furthermore. I contend, and with reason, that British subjects are just as much entitled to their Sunday rest as any of the heathen labourers engaged on public works, for whom you plead in your leader now under review. Why should the labourer engaged on Government works be excluded from compulsory Sunday labour while British subjects are precluded from enjoying the day of rest that is granted to them in the ports of China and Japan? What are the "peculiar conditions (as yet unknown to the world at large) under which trade is conducted here that render it inadvisable that work on board ships should be suspended on the seventh day of every week? These, sir, are questions to which I ask you to your me with replies.
It is an indisputable fact that many important shipowners are averse to labour being carried on on board their vessels on Sunday in any part of the world, Sunday labour being a custom in some parts of the world for the continuance of which they can find no justification. It is therefore very strange that "the peculiar conditions" under which trade is conducted here render it inexpedient" that there shonld be an end to compulsory disrespect for the Sabbath in "our island home," the Malta and Gibraltar of the East."
Trusting you will favour me with space in your columns for the insertion of this reply to your comments on a question at issue.
Hongkong, 29th January, 1891,
Yours faithfully,
ONLY A BRITON.
Note:--The questions embodied in the above letter have never yet been answered. "The peculiar conditions" which render it "inexpedient" that there should be an end to compulsory disrespect for the Sabbath in the port of Hongkong were, at the time this pamphlet was sent to press, unknown to those who "
go down to the sea in ships" in the Far East.
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