ENG-1959 — Page 351

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Victoria. The present synagogue, built in 1901, is the gift of the late Sir Jacob Sassoon.

The first Hindu temple in Hong Kong was built in 1953 and is situated in Happy Valley. There has been since 1902 a Sikh temple in Queen's Road East which has served the needs not only of the Sikh community, but of many of those Hindus from Sind and the Punjab who have been to some extent influenced by Guru Nanak's teachings.

Buddhism maintains a strong-hold amongst the older Chinese and is very far from dying out amongst the younger generation. Religious studies are conducted in a large number of monasteries and nunneries and in hermitages built in secluded places where a dozen or more inmates may reside and devote themselves to quiet meditation. Because of the accessibility of Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan, hermitages in these places are popular with people living in the urban areas. The better known monasteries are, however, situated in more remote parts of the Territories which are generally scenically pleasing. Thus the Po Lin monastery at Ngong Ping, Lantau, is reputed to have the best view of the sunrise and is well patronized at week-ends and holidays. Other monasteries which attract both devotees and sightseers include those known as Castle Peak, Ling Wan, Tung Po To, Sai Lam and Fung Ying Sin Kwun which are all in the New Territories. Sutras are also expounded under the auspices of various Buddhist associations in the urban area.

Sarira, relics left after the, cremation" of noted high priests, or living Buddhas, are treasured by Buddhists and are, as a result, distributed to the close followers of the priest. They are usually kept in specially built pagodas within the compound of a monas- tery. During the year under review one such pagoda was built in Castle Peak and another in Tsuen Wan although the places of death of the two priests were not in Hong Kong.

In 1958 the Tung Wah Hospitals revived the ancient and solemn ceremony of Autumn Sacrifice at the Man Mo Temple in Hollywood Road and in the same year the Hong Kong Buddhist Association held a Memorial Service for the dead on Remem- brance Day at the Tung Lin Kok Yuen for the first time. These ceremonies were held again in 1959 and the Government was officially represented.