CO129-250 - Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [6-8] — Page 176

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

52

SUNDAY LABOR IN HONGKONG HARBOUR,

SUNDAY LABOR IN HONGKONG HARBOUR.

53

STATISTICS OF SUNDAY LABOUR

IN

HONGKONG HARBOUR,

The following Table shows the uumber of steamers of the various lines that worked on Sundays at Kowloon Wharves during the last two years—

P. & O. Co.

BEN LINE

GLEN

MUTUAL SHIPPERS

MOGUL

LINE.

1889.

1890.

6

6

9

173

384 Vessels and 1,392 Officers affected!

THE following Statistics showing the extent to which labour is carried on in the port of Hongkong on Sundays are compiled chiefly from a special table supplied to the China Mail on the 11th March, 1891.

On Sunday 1st March, 1891, the under-mentioned vessels flying the British flag were at work :---

Name of Vessel.

"COLONIST'

PHÍA CHULA CHOM KLAO

S.S.

"BENLARIG "

1:

35

21

"NIZAM"

BOMBAY"

Under the German

17

Flog.

DEVAWONGSE

"SISHAN

"PASIG"

"TOONAN"

« FORMOSA "

TELEMACHUS

* TEUCER "

24 MENMUIR"

DENBIGHSHIRE

S.S. TAICHEONG

*TRITOS"

PEMPTOS POLLUX" "AMOY "

TRIUMPH

"NIOBE"

**S.S. "CHI YUEN"

£

BEN

!?

Line or Agents.

LINE.

Messrs. ADAMSON, BELL & Co. SCOTTISH ORIENTAL LINE.

P. & O. Co.

15

"

Messrs. BRADLEY'S LINE.

TOK KRE & Co. (local).

CHINA MERCHANTS' S. N. Co. (Shanghai). DOUGLAS Co., Limited, (local).

ALFRED HOLTS' BLUE FUNNEL" LINE.

"

>>

**

""

EASTERN & AUSTRALIAN STEAMSHIP Co., Ld., Mesers. RUSSELL & Co. Agents. "SHIRE LINE.

*

Messrs. MEYER & Co.

Messrs. G. R. STEVENS & Co.

Messrs. JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.

Messrs. MELCHERS & Co.

Messrs. SIEMSSEN & Co.

Messrs. EDWARD SCHELLBASS & Co.

Messrs. SIMSSEN & Co.

CHINA MERCHANTS' STRAM NAVIGATION

Co. (Shanghai).

*Under the Chinese Play.

Docked on Sunday.

S.S.LAJU" (Agents, Messrs. CHING MOH & Co.) went into Dock on Sunday

1st March, 1891.

SHIRE LINE

BRITISH INDIA

INDO-CHINA UNION

10 A 10 S 1

I

27 †

421

Of course the increase of 15 vessels in 1890 does not necessarily show an increase of Sunday labour, as it is doubtless mainly due to the fact that the wharves wore more frequently resorted to, but it gives some idea of the extent to which Sunday labour goes on.

During 1889 only three vessels at the wharves did not work, while during 1890 five vessels did not work.

Eight may be taken as a fair average of the number of steamers that load and discharge cargo, at the wharves and in the stream, in the harbour of Hongkong every Suuday. Thus it will be seen that at least 384 vessels work on Sundays during course of the year. And, then, calculating an average of three Officers and one Captain for each vessel, it is equally apparent that fully 1,392 certificated officers of the Merchant Service are annually affected by the continuance of compulsory labour on board merchant vessels in the waters of the colony of Hongkong on the Lord's Day. The fact should not be lost sight of that many of the 384 vessels above referred to carry European firemen and sailors who, computed at 16 men per vessel for 200 vessels, equal 3,200 Europeans more or less affected by the practice of Sunday labour. So it may be taken for granted that fully 4,000 Europeans afloal, to say nothing of European Shipping Clerks and very large numbers of Chinese coolies and boutmen, are compelled annually to work in Hongkong on the day that in most parts of the world is set apart for the worship of God, for rest and recreation.

The B. I. steamers did not work on Sundays. Their commanders refused to do so. † Being of the above lines that were at thic wharves on Sundays during 1889.

(nearly all)

31

1890.

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