HOLIDAYS ORDINANCE

HOLIDAYS ORDINANCE

LAWS OF HONG KONG

HOLIDAYS ORDINANCE

CHAPTER 149





CHAPTER 149

HOLIDAYS

To consolidate and amend the law relating to general holidays.

(Amended, 19 of 1967, s. 2)

[10 January 1947.]

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Holidays Ordinance.

2. In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires

'general holiday' means a day which, subject to the provisions of
sections 4 and 7, shall be kept as a holiday by all banks.
educational establishments, public offices and Government
departments.

(Amended, 19 of 1967, s. 3)

3. Subject to section 6, the days specified in the Schedule shall be
general holidays.

(Replaced, 70 of 1983, s. 2)

4. (1) Anything in this Ordinance or any other law to the contrary
notwithstanding. the head of any Government department may, if in his
opinion the interests of the public service or the convenience of the
public so require, open and operate any of the offices and works thereof
on a general holiday and require any of the persons serving in his
department to perform any of their duties and functions on a general
holiday.

(2) Anything in this Ordinance or any other law to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Chief Justice may direct that any court or any of
the offices of any court shall be open on a general holiday for the
transaction of such business as the Chief Justice may think fit and may
require any of the persons serving in any such court or office to perform
any of their duties and functions on a general holiday.

(Replaced, 19 of 1967, s. 6)

5. Subject to the provisions of section 14 of the Bills of Exchange
Ordinance, it shall not be necessary for any person to make any
payment or to do any other act, including noting or protesting, relating
to any negotiable instrument on a general holiday, but all obligation to
make such payment or to do any such other act shall apply to the next
following day not being itself a general holiday.





6. (1) The Legislative Council may by resolution-

(a)appoint any day in any particular year to be observed as a
general holiday in addition to, or in substitution for, any day
specified in the Schedule;

(b) amend the Schedule by-

(i) adding any day to the list of days which are to be
observed as a general holiday or removing any day from that
list,

(ii) altering the designation of any general holiday or the
day on which it is to be observed;

(iii) making such provision supplementary to any such
addition or alteration as may be necessary or expedient for the
purpose of giving full effect to the amendment including
provision enabling the Governor to vary the day on which a
public holiday is to be observed.

(2) Where in any year two general holidays fall on the same day the
Governor may, by order in the Gazette, appoint any day in that year to be
observed as an additional general holiday.

(Replaced, 70 of 1983, s. 3)

7. Permanent magistrates, special magistrates and marine
magistrates may exercise all the jurisdiction and powers conferred on
them by any enactment in force in the Colony on any day, whether a
general holiday or not.

(Added, 43 of 1955, s. 2)

SCHEDULE [ss. 3 & 6.]

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

(a) every Sunday;

(b) the first week-day in January;

(c) Lunar New Year's Day:

(d) the second day of Lunar New Year;

(e) the third day of Lunar New Year;

(f)in a year in which Lunar New Year's Day or the second or the third day of
Lunar New Year is a Sunday, the day preceding Lunar New Year's Day.,

(g) Ching Ming Festival (or if that day is a Sunday, then the following day);

(h) Good Friday;

(i) the day following Good Friday;

(j) Easter Monday;

(k)the birthday of Her Majesty The Queen, being the second Saturday in June
or such other day as the Governor may.. by order in the Gazette. appoint in
place thereof.

(l)the Monday following the birthday of Her Majesty The Queen:

(m)Tuen Ng Festival or, if that day is a Sunday, then the week-day preceding
or following that day, being a day appointed by the Governor by order in
the Gazette;





(n)the Saturday preceding the last Monday in August:

(o)Liberation Day, being the last Monday in August:

(p)the day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (or if that day is a
Sunday then the day of that Festival) or such other day as the Governor
may, by order in the Gazette. appoint in place thereof.

(q)Chung Yeung Festival (or if that day is a Sunday, then the following day)
or such other day as the Governor may, by order in the Gazette. appoint in
place thereof:

(r)Christmas Day;

(s)the first week-day after Christmas Day;

(t)in a year in which Christmas Day is a Sunday, the second week-day after
Christmas Day.

A (Added, 70 of 1983, s. 4)
Originally 1 of 1947. (Cap. 149, 1950.) 9 of 1950. G.N.A. 185/50. G.N.A. 12/55. 43 of 1955. 13 of 1959. 31 of 1966. 19 of 1967. 18 of 1968. 70 of 1983. Short title. Interpretation. General holidays. Schedule. Operation of Government department or count on general holidays. No obligation to do acts relating to negotiable instruments on general holidays. (Cap. 19.) Power of the Legislative Council and the Governor. Schedule. Magistrates may act on general holidays.

Originally 1 of 1947. (Cap. 149, 1950.) 9 of 1950. G.N.A. 185/50. G.N.A. 12/55. 43 of 1955. 13 of 1959. 31 of 1966. 19 of 1967. 18 of 1968. 70 of 1983. Short title. Interpretation. General holidays. Schedule. Operation of Government department or count on general holidays. No obligation to do acts relating to negotiable instruments on general holidays. (Cap. 19.) Power of the Legislative Council and the Governor. Schedule. Magistrates may act on general holidays.

https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/2698

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