Page 22 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

Chairman’s

Remarks

Rev. Lincoln Leung

1984 was a very important year for Hong Kong contrary, we find common points among ourselves,
especially when faced with the same problems. There­
during which it underwent tremendous changes.
Following the announcement of the Sino-British fore, the "disunity" in the past was merely the result
Joint Declaration, the fears and worries of the Hong of the lack of communication or co-operation among
Kong people have had over the future of the city are us. By the grace of our Lord, there is a new break­
through among the churches of Hong Kong as a result
dispelled and a new hope and confidence is dawning.
of the emergence of the 1997 problem and the
The Hong Kong people no longer have to grope in
the dark and are recovering from the trauma brought efforts made by the Council. More and more non­
by the question of 1997. If both China and Britain member churches support and participate in our
projects on the future of Hong Kong. These changes
carry out the agreement with sincerity and determina­
tion Hong Kong will once again be full of "challenges not only contribute to the future of Hong Kong but
also are a big leap forward in the area of "unity”
and opportunities" which will bring about "stability
and prosperity’’ for its future. concerns. Is it not a heartening phenomenon?
Though Christians are only a minority of the
Thanks be to God. The Hong Kong Christian total population of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong
Council has all along taken a positive attitude in Christian Council is neither a big organization nor a
facing Hong Kong’s problems with regard to the political body. Yet we must not look down upon
present and the future. In terms of faith, we believe ourselves, as in the case of the Israelites, God chose
them not because of their being "more in number
that because God is the Lord of history, we need not
than other people’’ （Deut_ 7:7), but because of His
worry about our future and that He will lead us in the
path ahead of us. However, as part of the Hong Kong love. Likewise, it is by His love that God has placed
community we must not just "stand back and look us in Hong Kong, particularly in this transitional
up’’ or ’’put our heads in the sand’’， disregarding period when He entrusts to us His task. May we
everything. On the contrary, we ought to "go into the closely depend on the help of our Lord, express our
world’’， actively caring about and participating in the concern over Hong Kong’s future together with all
shaping of the future of Hong Kong and assuming the congregations and churches by assuming res­
responsibility for making changes. ponsibility for this task in concerted action, and
glorify God.
Since the Council has chosen to commit to this
difficult cause, misunderstandings, condemnations
and criticisms arising from some quarters of the
Christian community are unavoidable, even to the
extent of "being topped with political hats’’.
Fortunately, the churches of Hong Kong have lately
been gaining in political and social awareness and
taken action to express their concern for the future
of Hong Kong. On this basis, we can reaffirm that the
path we have chosen to take is a correct one.
Besides, on the surface there seems to be consi­
derable differences in theology, tradition, concepts,
etc. among the churches of Hong Kong. However,
these differences are in fact not as great as what they
are imagined to be, nor are they so insurmountable
as to render co-operation impossible. On the
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