Financial turmoil is disturbing the serenity of the Po Lin Monastery, which has been forced to embark on a voluntary redundancy programme after losing $600,000 due to a decline in visitors.
The Buddhist sanctuary on Lantau Island - which employs about 150 staff, including managers, drivers, cooks and waiters - has not set a target for the number of workers it might shed.
But the Reverend Sik Chi-wai, who attributed dropping visitor numbers to the combined effects of the economic gloom and recent bad weather, confirmed that two staff had resigned last month.
The vacancies would be filled by part-time workers if necessary, said the Reverend Sik, adding: 'We don't want to lay off anyone, but they are getting old, they are encouraged to retire.
'And if they don't want to work here any more, they can also consider leaving.'
Reverend Sik said visitor donations had dropped drastically because of record rainfall over the past two months. The monastery's income is generated mainly through donations and revenues from its popular vegetarian cafeteria.
'There were practically no people visiting here when it was raining,' Reverend Sik said, adding that cafeteria takings were down as well.