Page 6 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

HONG KONG CHRISTIAN COUNCIL
Report of the Executive Committee for the Year 1961 - 962
1
INTRODUCTION

According to the Colony Census which was taken on 7th March, 1961,
the total population of Hongkong was 3,133,131, of which 1,610,650 were
males and 1,522,481 were females. At the end of 1961, the total population
of the Colony was estimated to be 3,226,400. Of this number, 174 ,000 are
believed to be Roman Catholics and some 150,000 Protestant Christians.
In other words, only about one-tenth of Hongkong's total population is
Christian!

If we believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, and her Message
the Gospel of Reconciliation, then our Council as it serves the churches
should show real fellowship, a fellowship in which persons are accepted
and respected as our brothers for whom Christ died, and in which they are
united to serve.

As has been clearly stated in the Council's Constitution; the purposes
of the Hong Kong Christian Council are : (l) to develop closer fellowship
among the various Christian Bodies in Hongkong; (2) to bring about better
understanding and more effective cooperation in their work; (3) to promote
the welfare of the Christian Community; (4) to take such common actions
as may be necessary on matters affecting the religions, moral and social
life of the Community, and (5) to maintain contacts with ecumenical bodies
abroad.

We believe that these directives must be embodied in a day-to-day
partnership by the Council. Consequently, the areas the Council takes up
are those in which the total membership is actively interested, such areas
as worship, Christian nurture, group life and cooperation not only local
but also on a world-wide basis.

This report is submitted with the hope that it may empress any person
interested in the Joint efforts of the Christian Churches. Its appeal for
progress towards Church Unity goes forth in the confidence that it may
stimulate readers of clear thinking and deep feeling to positive action.

It tries to avoid side issues of lesser importance, in order to present
a simple direct account of the Council's activities of the year.

We are grateful to God and to our many friends that once again we are
able to report that the Council under His guidance has made further progress
during the year under review.

A . Notable Events of the Year

1. Call for full time personnel
Friends may be aware that the Hong Kong Christian Council had been
looking for a full time Executive Secretary ever since 1959. During the
past seven years, Mr. S. I. Lee, the Executive Secretary of the Hong
Kong Christian Welfare and Relief Council, had been .serving concurrently as
Executive Secretary on a voluntary basis. As our work grew, this double
burden had become too heavy for one man.

We are glad to announce that Mr. Calvin Ngai has been called to this
position. Mr. Ngai was engaged in church work in one of the Hong Kong
churches for six years. He was awarded last year a Church World Service
Scholarship to study at Andover Newton Theological School in U.S.A., and
returned to Hong Kong at the end of July after the completion of all
requirements for a Master's degree in Religious Education. He took up
his duties as Executive Secretary with the Council as from August lst,196l.

Later, Miss Margaret Yip, an experienced steno-typist and accountant,
was asked to serve as office assistant, from March 1st, 1962.

It is earnestly hoped that full cooperation and support will be given
them in their new position and that the work of the Council may go forward
from strength to strength under God.