BUNDAY LABOUR IN HONGKONG
One hears occasionally of prosecutions for non-observance of the Sunday cargo-loading laws, and it seems that these restrictions on shipping which can be overcome in case of proved necessity and which have brought in a certain amount of harbour revenue - are the only instances of enforced Sunday observance in the Colony. So many people, of necessity, continue to work on Sundays in their offices, such as journalists for example, that it is interesting to recall a time when even Government servants had to be forbidden to break the sabbath in this way!
The question of the observance of Sunday in Hongkong was the subject of a special Government order as far back as 1844, by reason of the fact that the desecration of the Day of Rest was then most marked. In a letter to the acting Surveyor General (the former title of the Director of Public Works), the Colonial Secretary stated: "I am directed by His Excellency the Governor-in-Council to inform you that, with a view to a 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.
The then Governor, Sir John Davis, added in a notification that he hoped Sunday would be observed with due respect henceforth by the Christian population throughout the Colony.
It is obvious that the attractions of sports and seaside; to say nothing of rambling amid Nature's glories, were not so strong in those early days!
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BUNDAY LABOUR IN HONGKONG
One hears occasionally of prosecutions for non-observance of the Sunday gargo-loading laws, and it seems that these restrictions on shipping which can be overcome in case of proved necessity and which have brought in a certain amount of harbour revenue - are the only instances of enforced Sunday observance in the Colony. So many people, of necessity, continue to work on Sundays in their offices, such as journalists for example, that it is interesting to recall a time when even Government servants had to be forbidden to break the sabbath in this way!
The question of the observance of Sunday in Hongkong was the subject of a special Government order as far back as 1844, by reason of the fact that the desecration of the Day of Rest was then most marked. In a letter to the acting Surveyor General (the former title of the Director of Public Works), the Colonial Secretary stated: "I am directed by His Excellency the Governor-in-Council to inform you that, with a view to a better observence of Sunday throughout the Colony, he directs that Government works be not proceeded with on that day, end 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 contrasted for.
The then Governor, Sir John Davis, added in a notification that he hoped Sunday would be observed with due respect henceforth by the Christian population through the Colony.
It is obvious that the attractions of sports and seaside; to say nothing of rembling mid Nature's glories, were not so strong in those early days!
!
(92)
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