Page 37 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

In the last year, "Five Loaves & Two Fish: Action By People's Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit
Churches Together" contributed a total subsidy of HK$1,875, foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting
000 to five emergency and re-habilitation projects: political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political
Project Amount (HK$) organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties
China Flooding Relief in 2002 $925,000 with foreign political organizations or bodies." In September
Afghanistan Relief $156,000 2002 the S ecurity Bureau published a consultative
Africa Relief $314,000 docum ent, and in February 2003 the National Security
Xinjiang Earthquake Relief $355,000 (Legislative Provisions) Bill was made public.
China SARS Relief $125,000 On November 19, 2002, the Committee conducted a
F. Asia Rural Development Projects seminar for its members and members of the Council's
Executive Committee. A submission was sent to the Security
"Five Loaves & Two Fish: A ction By C hurches
Bureau. The Council acknow ledged the obligation to
Together" cared for the needy in both China and other
legislate, but voiced a number of concerns regarding civil
poor countries in Asia. It funded the integrated rural
liberties, particularly the freedom of expression, freedom of
deve lo p m en t projects th a t are co ord in a te d by the
information and freedom of association. The Council also
em ergency and developm ent units of the C hristian
responded to the Bill voicing essentially the same concerns.
Councils in the respective regions. In the last year, we
Together with other Christian groups, the Committee
allocated a total subsidy of HK$300,000 to the integrated
organized two prayer meetings on March 23 and July 11,
rural development projects.
2003 in order to give members of the Christian community
Project Amount (HK$) the opportunity to reflect and pray together on the issues
India integrated rural development $100,000 surrounding Article No. 23.
project Earthquake Relief

Bangladesh integrated rural $100,000 B. Opposing the Legalization of Soccer Betting
development project
The Committee continued to participate in the Great
Burma integrated rural development $100,000
Coalition Against the Legalization of Soccer Betting. During
project
the past year the issue came to a clim ax with the SAR
2. Justice and Social Concern Committee Government publishing the Betting Duty Amendment Bill

M iss A lice Yuk Tak-fun is the C o m m itte e 's 2003 which was passed by the Legislative Council on July
Chairperson. Rev. Hans Lutz continued to work as consultant 9, 2003. Backed by members from the education sector,
until June 30, 2003. Miss Elsa Choi Kwei-ying completed the Coalition will continue its efforts to educate young people
her work as project staff for women's concerns on May 15, about the negative effects of gambling.
2003. Mr. Jonah Wan Hoi-wing joined the Council's staff as The Com m ittee also continued to be part of the
Assistant Executive Secretary on June 1,2003. The activities Christian Coalition Against the Legalization of Soccer Betting.
of the Committee included: The Coalition organized a march on January 12, 2003 and
focused on lobbying undecided members of the Legislative
A. Legislation on Article No. 23 of the Basic Law Council.
The Council made a representation to the Bills
During most of the year, public debate centered on
Com m ittee of the Legislative Council. It reiterated its
the proposal for national security legislation. Article No. 23
opposition to the Bill and requested the establishment of a
of the Basic Law provides that "the Hong Kong Special
Committee appointed by the Government to deal with social
Administrative Region shall enact laws on its own to prohibit
problems arising from gambling.
any act of treason, sedition, subversion against the Central