Page 36 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

General Secretary's Report

( S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 0 - A u g u s t 2 0 0 1 )

R e v . E r ic S . Y . S o

FORWARD Concern for the Marginalized Groups:
A. C on cern for the G a p b etw e en the Rich
People who are living in Hong Kong receive
updated news from different channels everyday. Mas- and the P oor
sive information generated from the fields of 1. The Formation of an Alliance

technology, politics, sociology, as well as ethics, The Council joined with local organizations in-
culture, social life and even religious issues is chan- cluding social services, education, academic and Chris-
neled by different mass media such as newspapers, tian sectors to form an alliance called "Livelihood 2 1 '
broadcasting and internet. Living in this historical which is mainly concerned about the gap between the
moment, the Church inevitably faces the challenges of rich and the poor. Such concern has been expressed to
excessive information and experiences the same con- the Government in October 2000, before and after the
sequences as everyone does. However, it should not Chief Executive gave his Policy Address. Recently,
be the Church's position to play a passive role and ac- this Alliance has still been working for the local
cept these new things continuously. In the past God grassroots people periodically in studying their needs
had chosen His servant to be the sentinel for His people and raising suggestions.
(Ezekiel 33:7; Habakkuk 2:1) who kept watch to see
the changes and to deliver the m essages of God.
Nowadays, it is also the Church’s responsibility to stand
at her watchpost for the Hong Kong society, the people
of God, and the need of the people.

TWO FOCAL POINTS
In the epilogue of the 1999/2000 Annual Report,
I highlighted two important tasks which were targeted The representatives of the Council and the Chairman of the
Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union meet with the
for more concern by churches. One of them was the
Chief Executive Mr. Tung Chee-hwa.
concern for the marginalized groups, while the other
one was to help build morality and values in the society. 2. Meeting with the Chief Executive
We give thanks to God that we have seen a lot of re- 13 members of the CounciFs Executive Com-
sponse last year, and some of the plans and movements mittee joined with the Chairman of the Hong Kong
are even carried out by parties that are not related to Chinese Christian Churches Union to meet with the
Chief Executive Mr. Tung Chee-hwa on October 4,
the Council.
2000. During the meeting, we expressed clearly the
Church’s concern about the social issues of the gap

between the rich and the poor, the conditions for so-
cial harmony, the needs of children, youth and the