Page 6 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

I * INTRODUCTION

The 1966 census showed thepopulation o f ' Hong Kong at t h e end
of 1966 has reached the estimated tota l of 3, 785.300. Of this figure,

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about 98% are Chinese and approximately 5 2 % othe. tota l population
are under 25 years of age.

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Annreasedandever increasing tempo is apparent in every
,

aspect of Hong Kong's daily l i f e . But it is the rapid gr owth of popu­
lation, industry, commerce, tourism and the spread, of the Gospel, which
have made our city Hong Kong unique in many respects in the post war
years.
Looking at the churches, growth continues steadily. The annual
increase o f 12% Church membership during I960 -- 63 has been slowed
down to an annual increase of 4% during 1963 - 66. Nevertheless,

new churches and chapels in the City particularly in housing estates
and sa tellite towns are constantly being added. According to the report
of a church survey conducted in 1966. there are now 388 Protestent
churches in Hong Kong- and their membership has reached the tota l of
155,000. (adult) as at the end of 1966.

In a community lik e that of Hong Kong, where problems of liv e li­
hood and development are so acute, it is natural that the churches
should wish to make their contribution and to express their concern
for the life and needs of the community. This usually takes the form
of medical, educational, and welfare service.

Recently, there were considerable discussions among church groups
on the p riorities of needs in Hong Kong in relation to the churches'
witness and service in helping to meet those needs. It was fe lt that
Hong Kong's needs in order of priority are:

1. Youth (including vocational training, recreational,
hard-to reach young people)
2 . D rug addiction
3. Urban Community Development
4. Family Counselling
5. Aged
6. Public, Health (including family planning, home nursing,
prevention of illn e ss, education.)

In order to meet, the need and to witness effectiv ely to Jesus
Christ in a pre-dominantly non-Christian community, it is essential
that the Christian forces act together. For this reason, the Hong
Kong Christian Council was founded in 1954. (Its membership is by
Denomination) It has now a membership of 20 major church denomination
and Christian organizations. These member church denominations repre-
sent 75$ of the tota l Protestant Church membership in Hong Kong.

As a member of the Division of World Mission & Evangelism, of the
World Council of Churches; the World. Council on Christian Education and
the East Asia Christian Conference, the Council aims at strengthening
the local churches through united effo rts, promoting the ecumenical
movement, and expressing common concern for the needs of society by
concerted action.

Ever since its inception, the Council has been aiming at a unified
social service program through its auxiliary organization, the Hong
Kong Christian Welfare and R elief Council. As regards meeting the
healing ministry, the Council is. sponsoring a United Christian Hospital
of 600 beds which we hope w ill materialize in the near future.

Work of the Council is at present being earried on by three Auxi­
liary Organizations, eight Standing Committees and four Special Committees.