Page 9 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

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For this reason, the Hong Kong Christian Council was founded in
1954 (Its membership is by Denomination Association or Mission). It
now has a membership of 22 major church bodies and Christian organi-
zations. Hong Kong Christian Council members represent. 75% of the
total Protestant Church membership in Kong Kong.

As a member of the Division of World Mission and Evangelism -
World Council of Churches, the World Council on Christian Education
and the East Asia Christian Conference, the purposes of the Council
are:

1. To develop closer fellowship among the various Christian bodies
in Hong Kong.

2. To bring about better understanding and more effective co-operation
in their work.

3. To promote the welfare of the Christian community.

4 . To take such common action as may be necessary on Matters
affecting the religious, moral and social life of the community.

5. To maintain contacts with ecumenical bodies abroad.

Ever since its inception, the Council has been aiming at a unified
social service programme through its auxiliary organization, the Hong
Kong Christian Welfare and Relief Council now known as Kong Kong
Christian Service. To help in the healing ministry, the Council is
sponsoring a United Christian Hospital of 600 beds which we hope will
materialize in the near future.

Work of the Council is at present being carried on by three
Auxiliary Organizations, eight Standing Committees and five Special
Committees.

One hopeful sign of growing ecumenism is the Roman Catholic
Diocese’s willingness to take part in joint services and discussions
which, it is to be hoped, will soon lead to joint action with other
Christian bodies in Hong Kong. The Christian forces, though only
10 per cent of Hong Kong's four million, have a unique opportunity by
steadiness in prayer and by participation in community life, to play
a possibly decisive role in shaping the life and hope of the people.

II. VOICE OF THE CHURCHES DURING DISTURBANCES

During the disturbances the Council together with its member
churches appealed to the public for support to the Hong Kong Government
for its efforts in restoring peace and order.

These statements also addressed the basic social problems which
provoked the initial dispute. The HKCC (Industrial Committee) statement
was especially forthright in calling for a committee of independent
persons to investigate, arbitrate and report on new procedures for
handling future labour disputes. Their final point, echoed also in
Bishop Gilbert Baker's episcopal letter, called on "all those holding
responsibility in any organizations and associations to commit them-
selves to work together as a matter of urgency to remove the causes
of social injustice and insecurity and to provide positive opportunities
for all to live a full life and to continue their efforts even though
the immediate sense of crisis abates." The two letters from the
Council in support of the Government had received wide publicity
including Radio and TV.

We thank God that the firm handling by the Government and full
support from the general public helped prevent disturbances from
getting out of hand.

III. DEDICATION OF THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN CENTRE

It has long been the hope that a Christian Centre could be established