Old Hong Kong-3 — Page 4

580

INDIANS

SIKH AND HINDU TEMPLE

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The history of the places of worship of the different races in the Colony has been dealt with Christian Cathedrals and Churches, the Mohamedan Mosque, and Jewish Synagogue, as well as several Chinese temples. There remains the Sikh and Hindu temple at Morrison Gap to be considered. This was established in newly-built premises thirty-three years ago, with due ceremony, and a fairly full account is available from contemporary records.

I take the following extract from the Hongkong Telegraph of May 12, 1902:

Every credit is due to the members of the Sikh and Hindu community of Hongkong for the generous manner in which they have subscribed to the funds for a new temple in the Colony. The idea has been mooted for the past twenty years, but the heavy cost of such an undertaking prevented its accomplishment.

But

now the difficulty has been overcome, and yesterday morning the temple, the Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Hongkong, was fittingly inaugurated. A large gathering attend- ed the ceremony. After meeting at the Central Police Station they marched through Wanchai to the Gap behind Morrison Hill, where the new temple has been erected. Major Berger kindly permitted the band of the Hongkong Regiment to be present. The Sacred Book was deposited in the building and a religious service followed.

Afterwards a general meeting was held at which there were present a number of Sikh army officers, as well as a number of Europeans, including Mr. B. Brotherton Harker, the architect.

After a statement by Lada Sham Das in Hindustani, Subadar Teja Singh gave an address in English. He pointed out that in the Colony there was a Sikh and Hundu Community of about 700, but that though the R.A., the Police, and the merchants had each a copy of the sacred book at their respective places, there had hitherto been no centre where they could jointly offer their prayers and engage in the service. The provision of such a place had been thought of for the last twenty years, but the heavy cost had always stood in the way of its accom- plishment. The coming of the China Field Force (for the Boxer trouble) brought an opportunity, however, of their wishes being carried out. The Sikhs in the force were asked to subscribe, and every soldier, policeman and watchman in the Jolony gave one month's income. The China Field Force assisted them very ably, and their outside stations sent in their portions.

For their success in securing a site from the Government thanks were due to Captain Bland, R.A., Mr. May of the Police, His Excellency the General Officer Commanding, and Mr. Ormsby of the P.W.D. The subscriptions were limited to Sikhs and Hindus. They had not thought it necessary to appeal to others for support, and they had been able to effect their purpose, though they had no doubt that had they appealed to others that appeal would not have been made in vain.

Among the subscriptions worth noting were $2,150 from the H.K. Police, $2,285 from Nos.1 and 2 Companies, H.K.S.B.R.A., $1,461 from the China Field Force, $223 from the Victoria Gaol, and $684 from the Shanghai Municipal Police. The total sum amounted to about $10,500.

After expressing the hope that the Public Works Department would grant permission for the erection of the proposed small crematorium, Subadar Tejæ Singh went on to say that their special thanks were due to Mr. Harker, who had kindly assisted them in getting the temple ready under circumstances of considerable difficulty, and had done so in a manner reflecting the greatest credit upon him. He had very great pleasure in asking Mr. Harker to accept, for Mrs. Harker, a ring as a token of the appreciation of his services, and he wished him and his wife long life and prosperity.