Page 8 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

INTRODUCTION

During the year the normal pattern of life and work have been
affected by unsettled conditions in China and the disturbances in
Hong Kong.

The disturbances from May to November 1967 have placed a heavy
burden on every citizen of Hong Kong. Fortunately, throughout the
troubles, the majority of Hong Kong people carried out their proper
responsibilities with patience and tolerance. The public support
for the Government, such as that expressed by the Council on behalf
of the Christians and other organizations, helped to maintain law
and order during the confrontation period.

This is one of the things we have to be thankful for; that in
spite of man's disorder, God's design for man and for the world never
changes. We are also thankful for God’s redeeming love which continues
to come, and the response to the 1967 confrontation was a dramatic
reminder of this amazing love. The events of 1967 also served as a
challenge to the church - we must be more concerned for the needs of
our community and the people of Hong Kong.

By end of 1967, the total estimated population of Hong Kong was
3,877,700. About 98% are Chinese. As the result of the effort of
family planning, the birth rate has been slowed down to 74,100 in
excess of the death rate in 1967. This represents a growth rate of
2.7 per thousand, a good achievement anywhere in the world.

Looking at the churches, the annual increase of 12% Church
membership during 196O-63 has also been slowed down to an annual
increase of 4% during 1964-67. Nevertheless, new churches and chapels
in the city (particularly in housing estates and satellite towns)
are constantly being added. There are now 412 Protestant churches
and 270 schools in Hong Kong, and their membership had reached a total
of 160,000 at the end of 1967. (The Roman Catholic Church has a
membership of 235 ,000 making Christians approximately 10% of the total
population.)

The fundamental imperatives underlying Christian Church activities
continue to be those set forth in the New Testament:

1. to preach and to heal (Luke 9)

2. to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, care for the
stranger, clothe the naked (Matthew 25)

3. to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them (Matthew 28)

However, church and community leaders have recognized for some
time that Hong Kong's primary tasks are no longer feeding, clothing
and housing refugees. Rather, the provision of real life and not just
existence is today's crying demand. Current disturbances, though
politically inspired, are not unrelated to these needs.

A recent study conducted by the Hong Kong Christian Service on the
social needs in Hong Kong revealed that the priorities remain much the
same as in 1967, i.e. 1. Youth 2. Drug Addiction 3 . Urban-Community
Development 4. Family Counseling 5 . Aged 6. Public Health.

The churches and voluntary service agencies continue their extensive
and often imaginative programmes in education, medical and social
services and industrial work and in this they are well supported by
the Government.

In order to reach people, the church must leave its stable position
to go out in search of them. The Church has to find methods of expressing
the message of God to men in ways which will become meaningful in their
everyday situations. If the churches wish to give effective witness
to Jesus Christ, it is essential that the Christian forces act together.