Page 14 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

righteous, more peaceful, and more just. There is a need for
the Christian churches and their members to devote themselves in
ministry to the world in bringing a Christian spirit to our
society.

For this reason, the Committee was organized in 1956. The
objectives of the Committee are:

(1 ) to promote the study of social problems and of the relevance
of the Christian faith and influence towards their solution.

(2) to strengthen the sense of responsibility in the common
life of our city.

(3) to encourage joint action on the part of the churches,
Christian organizations and individuals in countering
particular social evils.

Work of this Committee during the year included the following:

A . Support of the Mass Education Campaign Against Drug-Addiction

Drug-Addiction has become a major social problem in Hong
Kong in the past few years and grows more serious every day.

In order to help Christians realize the dreadful consequences
of taking drugs, willing to accept and understand the addicts
and to help those unfortunate victims to build a new life of
responsibility and dignity, the committee supported the work
of the Action Committee Against Narcotics, and sent pamphlets
and study materials to all local churches and Christian
Organizations urging them to support the anti-narcotics campaign
so as to help to eradicate the malignant growth of drug-taking
in Hong Kong.

B. Protest to the Issuing of New Bar Licences

During the year, the Committee made a survey on the number
of bars being operated in Tsim Sha Tsui area and found that
there were more then 80 bars in a area of less than half a
square mile! Members of the Council as well as many other
Christian Organizations and non-Christian Agencies have
expressed their concern and opposition to this social evil
because in mahy cases, these bars are another form of prostitute
houses. This matter was brought up for discussion at the
Council’s Executive Committee meeting and a letter on behalf
of the churches was sent to the Licencing Board registering
our objection to the issuing of bar licences to those blackedout
bars especially in the Tsim Sha Tsui area.

At the invitation of the Licencing Board, the Chairman and
Secretary of the Christian Citizenship Movement Committee
together with secretaries of related Christian Organizations
in the Christian Centre attended a special meeting to present
the reasons for our objection: a period of question and
answer followed. We are pleased to report that as the result
of our strong objection, at least five bar licences have not
been issued to those questionable bars.

C . Opposition to the Establishment of Dog-racing Facilities in
the New Territories

During the year, the Hsung Yee Kuk has made a proposal to
Government for establishing dog-racing facilities in the New
Territories. Members of the Christian Council and many other
agencies have expressed their concern and opposition to such
possible evil. The Council at its May 1967 meeting voted to
send a letter to the Legislative Council registering our stronv
objection to the proposal. We are pleased to report that
because of the strong objections from the Churches and the
public, this proposal was finally withdrawn.