Page 16 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

H O N G K O N G

C H R I S T I A N

C O U N C IL

ANNUAL REPORT 1978- 79

57 PEKING ROAD 4/F., KOWLOON, HONG KONG. TEL. 3-678035

Maternity Leave, Resettlement of Boat People,
the International Year of the Child, the Mass
Media, etc. — all of which resulted in the

broadening of Christian concern and public
INTRODUCTION witness. Indications are clear that the people of
Hong Kong are interested in what Christians
have to say on important social subjects and
that there is plenty of good will among change
agents towards the Council. Opportunities for
public witness are available.

In the year under review, the Council has
In 1978-79, demand on the Hong Kong discovered a way to be of direct service to the
Christian Council to be an active agent of the church’s grassroots — the transmission of

churches for common witness and joint action information and ideas in a usable and teachable
continued to increase. The Council was called form. Several of our well-prepared packets of
upon by both local and overseas bodies to make topical material — on the Child, on Economic

various ecumenical operations in Hong Kong and Public Affairs, on Labour Education and
more authentic and effective. Some examples Workers Rights — have been so well received

of this were the transformation of Lutheran and supported by local congregations and
World Service in Hong Kong to the operational Church-related schools that we are convinced
division of Hong Kong Christian Service, the we have found a need and are in a position to
talks on the organizational union of United develop materials and meet that need.
Christian. Medical Service with Nethersole
Hospital, and the successful restructuring of Tao
Fung Shan Christian. Institute. However, the
Council’s larger role as an ecumenical catalyst In sum, the Council has in 1978-79 found
was not confined to structural and organizational an openness in the Christian community for
concerns only, but also to the concern for a more authentic ecumenism and for study and
closer and more strategic relation between faith reflection; and an openness in the community-
and service in the concrete situation of Hong at-large for Christian input. But such openness
Kong. cannot be taken for granted. Paradoxical as it
may seem, this openness exists alongside an
inward-looking attitude on the part of the same
There has also been increasing demand Christian community, and alongside an
from the community-at-large that the Council increasingly competitive and speculative ethos in
express itself on important issues of public con- society. Neither form of openness can be taken
cern. How the Council can best speak for the for granted. The Council, its leadership and all
churches has always been a sensitive subject. of us committed to working together, must give
The problem has not been resolved. However, proof of our faith. Only then can the Church
during 1978-79, the Council’s leadership did take advantage of the openness in serving God
publicly express Christian concern on a number in Hong Kong, on the doorstep of China, and in

of important issues — Indo-Chinese refugees, the heart of Asia.