Page 39 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

I. REVIEW

1971 was another year of Development for Hong Kong. In
spite of growing material prosperity, serious problems
concerning people remain. There are still problems pressing
for solution, such as pollution, crime, prevention of juvenile
delinquency, vocational training, technical and higher
education, welfare programmes for all age groups, industrial
relations and security for workers.

Christians are giving valuable service as individuals
in the business world, in industry and in welfare programmes
but it cannot be said that the Church as a whole has really
become involved in the total life of our community. We
vaguely see that the present structures of social, political
and economic life must be changed and new structures are
necessary for life to be more human for more people, but
where are the committed persons to pay the cost of this
change? And what kind of spirituality is needed for such
commitment?

The general impression of the Church in Hong Kong is
that it is still too concerned with her own affairs, too
divided, clinging too much to its divisions and that it
needs to consider fresh ways to make further contributions
to the society which it is called to serve.
During the past decade, there has been increasing
cooperation of more Christian churches in the fields of
social services, in social action, in medical ministry and
community health, in theological education, in communications,
in Industrial Mission and ministry to the low-income class,
and in joint action for mission. All these are good programs
and they need to be strengthened.

During the year, the. churches of Hong Kong raised more
than 2 million dollars for the United Christian•Hospital
Project. The local general appeal, including the churches
has brought in HK$3.8 million. We are grateful to the
churches especially to the Hong Kong Chinese Christian
Churches Union for their support.

The church in Hong Kong cannot be silent towards moral
depression and other forms of social evils. Even though
Christians represent only 10% of the total population
(4,064,400) and the influence of the churches may be limited,
yet the prophetic responsibility must not be ignored and
the church should do as much as possible.

During the year, the Executive Committee of the Council
examined and. adopted the following areas of concern for
mission and service projects: