Page 33 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

The new Christian Crematorium has been opened at Cape Collinson.
It was dedicated at a service conducted by Rev. Barry Till, the Rev.
Lee Ching Ming end the Rev. Wong Tsok, on behalf of Hong Kong Christian
Council.

3. United Christian Hospital Committee
The Church is the continuation of the Incarnation. In both mission
ard service the Church tries to give expression to the fact that Christ’s
Spirit dwells within her. The purpose of all Church activities is the
Redemption and Healing of the entire being - the soul, the mind and the
body. Christianity is a living religion and this conviction must be
expressed by love in action.

In our community to-day sickness, without adequate medical service,
is a great throat to the population of Hong Kong. This is especially
true for the poor and the refugees. We know that the minimum bed ratio
required per 1000 in any community is 4.4 but up to the end of 1963,
Hong Kong has only 2.9 beds, per 1000 residents. It has been reported
by the Government that by the end of 1963 a total of 10,650 beds has
been reached, but there are already over 30,000 patients being admitted
into hospital, and the bed deficiency by 1968 will be 4370. Therefore,
the expansion of medical services to cope with the need has been noted
as urgent, A great opportunity to serve our brothers who are in need
has presented itself to all of us who call ourselves Christians.

In view of this challenge, the Hong Kong Christian Council has
appointed a special Committee to explore the possibility of constructing
a 600 bed United Christian Hospital. Almost two years have been spent
in drawing up preliminary plans. The Hong Kong Government Medical
Department has indiciated its deep interest in this scheme and a site
of over 235,000.- sq. feet located near the junction of Tai Po Road and
Lung Cheung Road, has been tenatively reserved for this purpose free of
charge. An initial estimate of the cost of construction and equipment
is HK$20,000,000.- or US$3,850,000.- Besides providing the best possible
hospital care, the proposed hospital is planned to stengthen the services
of the many Christian clinics throughout the community, help them with
their medical and technical difficulties and serve them in any way
possible, thus rendering more effective Christian medical service to all
who need it. It is our hope and prayer that this United Christian
Hospital may serve as a worthwhile expression of Christian love and
unity as we commit ourseves in joint action for His mission.

4. Women World Day of Prayer Committee
Two Committees, one Chinese - speaking and one English - speaking,
consisting of women representatives of many churches in Hong Kong, met
in October 1963 to discuss the arrangements for the Service to be held
in February 1964.

The first Friday in Lent (on which day the world-wide observance is
always held) fell this year on February 14th, coinciding with Chinese
New Year Celebrations.

A further meeting of the joint committee was held on January 9th
at which, however, after many discussions, it was decided to hold a
service on that day at the Kowloon Methodist Church, Gascoigne Road.
This was publicized by the usual means of posters, notices and letters
in the Press, Chinese and English, and interviews over the various
Radio Stations.

In the knowledge that many who would normally wish to attend the
Service could not do so this year, copies of the Service Order Sheet
were made available to any who wished to have them to use in their
homes.

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