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The theme will be "Christ - the Life" with special emphasis on the life
and service of youth in Asia. It is hoped that an announcement of the
delegates chosen to attend this Conference may be made in the near future.

The Youth Committee is concentrating its work on the youth groups
of the various member churches, and Christian youth organizations of the
Hong Kong Christian Council, which are working with young people in the
fifteen to twenty-five age range. It is acting as a channel of
t
communication between the World Council of Churches Youth Dept. he East
Asia Christian Conference, and the local member churches and organizations.
It seeks to encourage cooperation and coordination between the churches
in their own youth work, and also develop ecumenical youth activities.
It is hoped that the sharing of ideas and problems among the youth leaders,
and the planning of joint conference and training programmes will help
to strengthen and improve the quality of the youth groups in our churches,
and their outreach into the community.

V. WORK OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES

1 . Christian Centre Committee
One of the major projects being undertaken by the Hong Kong Christian
Council is the building of the "Hong Kong Christian Centre". The purpose
of erecting such a Christian Centre is to house the ecumenical bodies
and such other Christian agencies as may be interested, all under one
roof so as to make possible convenient consultation and close cooperation.
Such a concret expression of Christian unity would also be a vivid
witness to Christ, our Lord. The need for such a centre here is obvious.
Hong Kong has grown from an entrepot to an industrial city. Its
population has increased from one million to 4 millions in ten years.
Skycrapers are built all over the city. Land values are going up.
Rents are becoming prohibitive. Six years’ rents would add up to the
original cost of the building in certain areas. Such a situation
creates a real problem for the Christian organizactions which possess
no land or building of their own, which is the case with nearly all
ecumenical bodies.

Among those bodies that are immediately involved are included:
The Council of Christian Literature For Overseas Chinese (CCLOC), the Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC), the Hong Kong Christian Welfare
and Relief Council (HKCWRC), the Audio Visual Evangelism Committee (aVEC),
the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches' Union (HKCCCU), and the Bible
Society. At one time it looked as if there was no solution to this
problem, until we heard that the Kowloon Union Church (KUC) was planning
to develop its adjacent (manse) site. The Council went into negotiation
with the Church, in order to develop the property together. It has been
decided to put up a building possibly of twelve storeys designated as
Hong Kong Christian Centre. The Council will be responsible for eight
floors, and the Church for the remaining floors. On the eight floors
assigned to the Council, the above ecumenical bodies and a few other
Christian agencies will be housed. The financial responsibility that
falls upon the HKCC is estimated at HK$1,788,000 which is approximately
equal to US$320,000 or US$40,000 per floor. Towards this project the
Mission Boards of American Churches having work in Hong Kong are under-
taking to raise US$120,000. Some of the organizations which expect to
occupy space in the proposed centre, for example, the Bible Society,
the HKCCCU and the KHCWRC, are prepared to meet their full share of the
required cost. This leaves US$60,000 yet to be found. Space is to be
reserved for an Ecumenical Library, a chapel and a number of committee
rooms.

2. Christian Cemetery Committee
The Committee is continuing to look for a suitable site for a
Christian Cemetery and is prepared to negotiate with Government for this
when opportunity arises.

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