Page 29 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

Christian Industrial Com m ittee tion, working with community organizations
and labour unions which share the same goal. In
The Committee was formed in 1967 and presently this process, we can see that Christian involve­
managed by a board consisting of representatives ment in the struggle for justice has the support
from four denominations, two from the Council and of the people.
four worker representatives.
U nited Christian M edical Service
its work has four major components.
UCMS, formed in 1973, is now an important service
component in Kwun Tong. It operates the United
1. Labour Education
Operating in twenty public housing estates and Christian Hospital, the Nethersole School of Nursing
new towns, the Committee ran seventy courses and the Kwun Tong Community Health Project.
with 8,000 workers taking part. A strong After eight years, the UCMS can claim to have made
training programme has been instituted for the a major contribution in the field of community
nurturing of worker leadership, many of whom health in Hong Kong.
now teach labour law and counsel in disputes.
Given an acute shortage of beds in the area, UCMS
has committed itself to an expansion programme
2. Labour Evangelism towards 1,400 beds, including geriatrics and mental
The Committee has continued to work with
several congregations in low-income areas for care, making it one of the largest hospitals in Hong
education and workers fellowships. Kong.
Beginning this year, the Committee and the
Missions Division began a gospel base for Bible N ethersole Hospital
studies and worship.
Founded in 1886 by the London Mission, the
hospital has served the poor for some ninety years.
3. Dispute Counselling

This is the Committee’most consuming task. It is most noted for gynaecology and its nursing care
s
Last year, the Committee handled over 3,000 is a recognized model. Given its long years of
dispute cases, most of which have to do with service, its facilities and equipment are inevitably
dismissal, redundancy, industrial accident and becoming worn and obsolete. The board is now
holidays. Through this ministry, thousands making plans for renovation and improvement.
upon thousands of workers have come to know
their rights, secure what they are entitled to, Refugee Work
and experience mutual support and dignity.
The care of refugees has been a traditional and
4. Improvement in Labour Legislation important task of the Christian Church. Since the
Results in this area have been remarkable last 50 s, the Council, through the Lutheran World
year, including the passage of a bill providing Service, Church World Service and Christian Welfare
for paid maternity leave and the doubling of and Relief Association, have been engaging in
workman's compensation. These two have service to Chinese migrants and refugees of white
strengthened the security of two million Hong Russian origin from China. In 1975, we began work
Kong workers, and also reflected the reality of among Vietnamese refugees. At the requests of the
the situations of low-income people and the United Nation High Commission for Refugees and
possibilities for reform. The approach the the Hong Kong Government, Christian Service took
Committee has taken is one of alliance-forma­ responsibility for a refugee camp. Since then, as