Page 27 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

General Secretary’s Reports

Rev. N.W. Kwok

I. PROLOGUE 3. The United Christian Medical Service
It was started by the Council in 1971 (1st
The Hong Kong Christian Council is an admission to its hospital in 1973). It serves the
important vehicle for the Ecumenical Movement in Kwun Tong District with a general hospital (United
Hong Kong. Since its founding in 1954, it has been Christian Hospital), a community health project
and is still promoting the concept of "Joint Action (Kwun Tong Community Health Project), and a
for Mission” . On the one hand, it has become an school of nursing (Nethersole School of Nursing).
ever present call to the churches; and on the other The hospital has just embarked on a huge expansion
hand, there is always a core of Christians in the project and will become a regional hospital with
Executive Committee and other sub-committees 1,400 beds by the time of its completion in 1991.
who are willing to join hands with Council’s staff in
putting this valuable concept into practice.
4. Alice, Ho Miu Ling, Nethersole Hospital
In so doing over the long years, those people who
have closely associated with the Council have It was founded by the London Missionary
Society in 1887. It will celebrate its centennial
developed a certain style, which I would like to
next February. At present, the hospital is busy in
call an "ecumenical” style. It is open and
drawing up plans to upgrade its rather obsolete and
non-judgemental; and yet at the same time it is
totally committed and trusting. crowded facilities. But in the long run, it will have
to find a more suitable site to build a bigger hospital
to meet the growing needs.
The work of the Council is not just that of the
few executive staff. It is the work of the various
committees as well as the work of the following
affiliated organizations: 5. Christian Family Service Centre
It was started as a case work centre by the
United Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. in 1955. Now it
is a multi-service agency serving the Kwun Tong
1. Hong Kong Christian Service
District.
The social service arm of the Council. It owes
its beginnings in the 1950's to the Hong Kong
Christian Welfare and Relief Council, Church World 6. Tao Fong Shan Ecumenical Centre
Hong Kong Christian Council was asked by
Service, Lutheran World Service, the Migration
the Church of Sweden Mission, representing the
Department of the World Council of Churches, as
Scandinavia East Asia Mission, to integrate the
well as the American Society of Friends. Now it
Christian Mission to Buddhists and the Christian
provides 15 different types of social service ranging
Study Centre in 1977. The Tao Fong Shan
from education, medical and health to social welfare.
Ecumenical Centre was thus brought about in 1980.
However, after 6 years, it has become obvious that
such integration was not possible. So HKCC has
2. Christian Industrial Committee
relinguished the operation of the Ecumenical Centre
It was started by the Council in 1967 to speak up
as of 1 st january, 1986.
on all issues affecting the lives of workers. It engages
in labour education, counselling and evangelism and
acts as an advocate for more adequate labour Let me outline the Council’s other concerns
legislation. interpretatively in the following sections.
2 5 —
—