Catholic and Protestant leaders back the move, saying the religion needs more public recognition
Leaders of Confucianism in Hong Kong are hoping that the philosopher's birthday will be made a public holiday soon.
This would make it the third religion in the city to have an official holiday marking the birth of its figurehead.
The move is supported by Catholic and Protestant leaders, who said Confucianism deserved greater public recognition. Confucians expect that a day from the Easter holiday could be substituted for Confucius' birthday.
Tong Yun-kai, president of the Confucian Academy, said long-standing negotiations with the government would soon bear fruit as it was hoped that Christian churches and the government would make concessions soon.
'We have a holiday to celebrate Jesus' birth. We have a holiday to celebrate Buddha's birth. As a Chinese religion, we should also have a holiday to celebrate Confucius' birth,' Mr Tong said.
Another Confucian leader, Shum Choi-sang, said he understood that Christian churches had agreed in principle to give up one of their holidays to the Confucians. The exact day would be decided by the government soon.