Fourth Day of Lunar New Year in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the fourth day is a substitute public and statutory holiday when any of the first three days of Lunar New Year falls on a Sunday.[1] Otherwise, the fourth day is not a regular annual public holiday, though it falls within the Lunar New Year season, which Hong Kong celebrates with customs such as lion dances, markets and prayers for good fortune.[4]
Its place in the festival
The fourth day is part of Lunar New Year, a festival that Hong Kong Tourism Board describes as one of the city’s biggest celebrations. Its overview places Chinese New Year across the first 15 days of the first lunar month and describes festive decorations, markets, auspicious foods and good wishes during this period.[4]
Hong Kong customs
Hong Kong Tourism Board describes season-wide activities including lion dances, flower markets, temple visits and prayers for good fortune. These are Lunar New Year season customs, rather than customs specific to the fourth day.[4]
The fourth day’s particular significance in Hong Kong is legal: it can provide the replacement holiday when a Sunday falls on one of the first three days of Lunar New Year. The Labour Department says the replacement applies under both the General Holidays Ordinance and the Employment Ordinance.[1]
When it is a public holiday
The fourth day is not automatically a holiday every year. Under the substitution rule, if Lunar New Year’s Day, its second day or its third day falls on a Sunday, the fourth day is designated as a general holiday and a statutory holiday in its place. If none of those first three days falls on Sunday, this substitution rule does not make the fourth day a holiday.[1]
This arrangement gives the replacement day after the affected festival day. It is specific to the first three Lunar New Year days; the Labour Department describes it as a distinct substitution rule in Hong Kong’s holiday legislation.[1]
Who gets the day off
A general holiday is a day on which banks, educational establishments, public offices and government departments need not open. The fourth day has that status only when it is designated as the substitute general holiday.[3]
The substitute day is also a statutory holiday. Employees covered by the Employment Ordinance are entitled to statutory holidays regardless of their length of service or weekly working hours. Statutory holiday pay is due to an employee who has been employed under a continuous contract for at least three months immediately before the holiday. If an employer requires an employee to work on a statutory holiday, the employer must arrange an alternative holiday.[1][2]
Planning around the day
When the fourth day is designated as a general holiday, plan for banks, schools, public offices and government departments to be closed. Check individual businesses and transport operators for their hours and schedules.[3]
Activities vary across the Lunar New Year period; check current listings and venue notices for events on the fourth day.[4]
Frequently asked questions
Is the fourth day of Lunar New Year a public holiday in Hong Kong?
Only when one of the first three days of Lunar New Year falls on a Sunday. In that case, the fourth day is designated as a substitute general and statutory holiday.[1]
Who is entitled to the day off?
Are banks and government offices open?
When the fourth day is a substitute general holiday, banks, educational establishments, public offices and government departments need not open. Check individual businesses and transport operators for their schedules.[3]
Are there special fourth-day customs in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong Tourism Board describes customs across the Lunar New Year season, including lion dances, markets and temple visits. These are season-wide customs, rather than customs specific to the fourth day.[4]
Sources and references
Sources used for The fourth day of Lunar New Year in Hong Kong SAR China:
- General Holidays and Employment Legislation (Substitution of Holidays)(Amendment) Ordinance 2011- Labour Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- Increase of Statutory Holidays- Labour Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- LCQ7:Arrangements regarding additional or substituted general holidays- The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- Chinese New Year- Hong Kong Tourism Board