Page 8 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

Christian Citizenship Movement Committee

It cannot be doubted that there has been a general deterioration
of morality among the people of Hong Kong due to over-crowding in-
dustrialization and urbanization. The old patterns of family and
community life are breaking down; and new standards and loyalties
are slow in emerging. This has caused great concern among some
Christian leaders. Christians have a responsibility to work for
the betterment of society through their faith, their effort and
their Christian influence.

For this reason, the Hong Kong Christian Council was let to
organize a Christian Citizenship Movement Committee in 1956 with
the aim of drawing the general attention of the people towards the
significance and responsibilities of being a citizen. Our personal
beliefs must lead to high ethical standards in community life.

The objectives of this movement are:
1. To promote the study of social problems and of the relevance
of the Christian faith towards their solution.
2. To strengthen the sense of responsibility in the common life
of the city.
3. To encourage joint action on the part of churches, Christian
organizations and individuals in countering particular social
evils.

For the past nine years, the Committee has been using methods such
as:
1. To arouse the conscience of local churches, Christian organizations
and schools toward the Movement.
2. To encourage their active participation, aiming at developing a
two-way movement.
3. To influence public opinion on topics of social interest by any
available means.
4. To appeal through the Council to ministers of all Christian
churches for the observing of a special Sunday on Christian
Citizenship every year.

In the past years, the Committee has sponsored Christian Citizen-
ship Essay Competitions, Radio Talks, Radio Programmes, A Good Citizen-
ship Photographic Competition and Exhibition, Christian Citizenship
Cartoons, Publication of Christian Citizenship Booklets and articles
in the press. The Committee also helped to protest against the
operating of Foot-ball pools in Hong Kong and the licensing of add-
itional bars in Kowloon with success.

As we review the past we have to thank God that we have been able
gradually to put some of our plans into execution despite our extremely
limited resources. In the coming year, we are planning to encourage
Christian schools to observe an Annual Christian Citizenship Week.
Some schools have already given favourable response to this proposal.
Nevertheless, members of the Committee feeL that this Movement has
been gradually put into the hands of a group of laymen, while the
participation of church ministers has slowed down. The Committee
believes that the driving force should come from the churches them-
selves rather than from an "outside" Committee.

If feasible, we propose that every church should form a sub-
committee on Christian Citizenship Movement which shall be a part
of the church' s youth fellowship, and that all churches be asked
to observe a Christian Citizenship Movement Week.

Committee for Co-operation on Church Development & Planning

The Committee was set up during 1963. The aim of the Committee,
as defined in its constitution is "to assit the churches, as separate