In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

3฀ The Sunday Rest Issue in Nineteenth Century Hong Kong Louis Ha Holidays, although they provide the pleasure of being free from work, have often touched on religious, cultural, economic and politically sensitive issues when the y involv e edicts whic h allo w o r disallow labour . Muc h skil l an d political wisdo m i s neede d t o launc h a ne w holida y tha t i s generall y accepted by inhabitants. By government decision , the Birthday o f Buddh a was added as a holiday in Hong Kong starting from 1999 . The decision was well considered, an d welcomed by inhabitant s fo r severa l reasons. Firstly, Buddhism ha d been integrate d int o Hong Kon g cultur e an d it was natura l to have some kind of birthday celebration on that day; secondly, there was the political wish of China to make Hong Kong more Chinese and to balance the many existin g holiday s connecte d t o Christianit y whic h wa s regarde d as Western; thirdly, the new holiday wa s within the usual quota of annua l holidays enjoye d b y Hon g Kon g peopl e whic h mean t n o extr a financia l burden neede d t o b e born e b y anyone. 1 Finally , the friendly relationshi p between different religiou s communities in Hong Kong meant the addition of the new holiday was not contentious. In othe r places an d other times , however, matter s concernin g holida y legislation have been controversial. For example, in European countries and Canada, Sunda y legislatio n an d whethe r o r not to allow Sunda y shoppin g has been debated for a long time.2 I n Hong Kong, although Sunday rest is 58 LOUI S H A commonly accepte d an d expecte d b y mos t people , ther e i s n o genera l prohibition o n Sunda y labour . In fact , startin g fro m a s earl y a s 1875 , all Sundays wer e prescribe d b y la w a s holidays an d regarde d a s dies non i n Hong Kong.3 But , while government departments, educational institutions, banking, buildin g an d tradin g companie s ar e closed , shoppin g malls , markets, restaurants , hotel s an d entertainmen t place s ar e open , an d transportation i s running. Th e mix i s a kind o f hybrid o f Sunda y res t an d Sunday labour, the origin of which can be traced back to the early years of the British colony. The Early Years To build houses an d roads a s quickly a s possible in the early year s of th e colony, Sunda y labou r wa s a commo n practice . Onl y th e fe w privilege d westerners enjoye d a rea l Sunda y rest . Th e firs t argumen t concernin g Sunday rest began with a letter to the editor of the Friend of China published on 24 April 1844 . The writer cynically argue d tha t Hong Kon g wa s not a British colony because the government had not enforced th e British law of Sabbath.4 On e month later, another letter pointed out that 200 workers were employed by the government to dig on Sundays, probably levelling sites for building, causin g grea t nuisanc e t o th e nearb y chape l wher e th e colonia l chaplain preached. The argument was that the government was inconsistent in allowing Sunday labour while paying a chaplain to preach the Bible that forbids suc h practice. 5 Th e colonial chaplai n wa s therefor e blame d fo r neglecting hi s dut y t o promot e th e observanc e o f th e Sabbat h i n Hon g Kong.6 Th e wish of the letter-writers wa s to transplant the British syste m of Sunday observance to Hong Kong. The government certainly did not find it convenient to do so. Its position regarding labour was that of an employer among s o man y others . However , i t agree d t o giv e order s t o governmen t departments to observe Sunday rest, leaving the remainder of the society to the...

Share