Page 34 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

and all the members of LegCo by universal suffrage. In officials, the LegCo members and the Jockey Club to
accordance with the provisions of annexes I and II, if there evaluate whether the Government, the gambling operators
is a need to amend the method for selecting the CE/LegCo and the media promote gambling. Besides, it
members for the terms subsequent to the year 2007, such commissioned the university faculty and at the same time
amendments must be made with the endorsement of 2/3 requested the government to conduct research about the
majority of LegCo, consent of the CE, and they shall be gambling situation.
reported to the Standing Committee of the National
(ii) Church Investment and Social Justice
People's Congress (NPCSC) for approval/for the record.
In order to discuss how churches can actively and
On April 6, 2004, the NPCSC made a determination to
positively motivate social responsibility through
interpret the annexes I and II and ruled out the election of
investment, the Committee together with other Christian
the CE and all the members of LegCo by universal suffrage
groups organized a seminar on Church Investment and
in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
Social Justice on May 1, 2004.
Together with other Christian groups, the Committee
organized a seminar on Christian Concerns Constitutional
D. Refugees and the Asylum Seekers in HK
Development on March 28, 2004. After the interpretation
Around 40-50 new asylum seekers arrive in Hong
of Basic Law, the Council issued “HKCC’s Response to the
Kong every month. Since the HK Government is not a
Constitutional Development of Hong Kong and the
signatory to the 1951 Convention on Refugees, it does not
Interpretation of the Basic Law by NPCSC”. It stated that
make any provision for them. Some of the refugees and
NPCSC should not hastily take the initiative to interpret the
asylum seekers in need approached the English speaking
Basic Law in the future. It also expressed that the Council
churches for help. The committee organized a task force to
deeply regretted that NPCSC set the unnecessary
restrictions on universal suffrage. Later, a submission was follow up the situation, and as a result Christian Action set
up a service center at Chung King Mansion in Tsim Sha
sent to the Constitutional Development Task Force in
Tsui. It acts as a central database for the records of those
response to the Third Report.
Together with other Christian groups the Committee receiving aid from the churches. Moreover, the center will
organized 3 prayer meetings on June 19, August 14, provide food, medical treatment, job training and
counseling service for refugees and asylum seekers.
September 11, 2004 to give members of the Christian
community an opportunity to pray together for Hong
E. Submission to the Government
Kong.
On February 25, 2004 the Committee wrote to the
B. “Witnessing to Social Justice” Youth Training Financial Secretary making a number of proposals for the
Program Hong Kong SAR 2004/05 budget. The proposals included
The Council is always concerned about issues of social introducing land and sea passenger departure tax, profit tax
justice, peace, human rights, freedom and democracy. In and salaries tax increases, cutting down expenditures,
celebrating the 50th Anniversary, the Committee launched supporting local small and medium enterprises and
a youth training program for social concern. The youths, opposing the 7-year residence rule for Comprehensive
who came from the churches, Christian organizations and Social Security Assistance (CSSA).
schools, would be strengthened in their concern for and
participation in the society through self-learning process in F. Special Sundays
the praxis. 7 teams joined the program and the kick-off During the past year the Committee prepared material
ceremony was held on February 7, 2004. In March and for three special Sundays.
April, 3 workshops were held and gave the basic training
AIDS Sunday was held on December 7, 2003 under
for the participants. The program finished at the end of
the theme “A Time of Hope for We Are Neighbours”.
August. Each team that completed the project received a
Christian Conference of Asia and St. John’s Cathedral HIV
certificate, and the best team and the most creative team
Education Centre prepared the materials.
will visit one of the Asian countries for cultural exchange.
Environment Sunday was celebrated on June 6, 2004
under the theme “Life-Giving Breath of God: Protecting
C. Activities in the Community
the Sacred Gift of Air”. The material was prepared by
(i) Watchdog for Gambling Promotion
“Christians for Eco-Concems”.
After the Betting Duty Amendment Bill 2003 was
Hong Kong Sunday was celebrated on July 4, 2004.
passed by the Legislative Council in July 2003, the The theme was “To Be a Peace-maker” and the sermon
Coalition Against the Legalization of Soccer Betting and
outline was prepared by Rev. Li Kin-wah.
the Christian Coalition Against the Legalization of Soccer
Betting reorganized into “Watchdog for Gambling
Promotion” which the committee continued to support.
‘‘Watchdog’’ frequently met with the government
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