Page 29 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

CHAIRPERSON，S

REMARKS

Ms. Ko Siu Wah

During the past year, the work of the Coun­ 7. To serve as a liason between Christian
cil has continued to develop and improve, with organizations in Hong Kong and regional
the earnest co-operation and support of all our and world ecumenical bodies.
member churches and organizations, members
of the Executive Committee, the staff, and Over the past thirty three years, the Council
friends at home and abroad, all of whom I has been working in accordance with its aims,
would like to thank heartily. and with the help of God has seen much
success and many achievements. We hope, in
The Hong Kong Christian Council was the days ahead, that all our members will dou­
founded on 19th January 1954, comprising ble their efforts to make our work an even
nineteen member churches and organisations. greater success.
Its aims, as stated in the Constitution, are:
Since the signing of the Sino-British Joint
1. To develop fellowship and mutual program­
Declaration, a new era has dawned in Hong
mes among the churches and Christian Kong. The Annex of the Joint Declaration says,
organizations to strengthen their outreach in "The Hong Kong Special Administrative
mission.
Region Government shall protect the rights and
freedoms of inhabitants and other persons in
2. To serve as a meeting place for the
exchange and reconciliation of views on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
matters of common interest. according to the law. The Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region Government shall main­
3. To promote joint planning and co-operative tain the rights and freedoms as provided for by
action for mission among the churches and the laws previously in force in Hong Kong,
Christian organizations in Hong Kong. including freedom...of academic research, of
belief...Religious organizations and believers
4. To assume responsibility for projects which may maintain their relations with religious
can best be carried out on a joint basis. organizations and believers elsewhere, and
schools, hospitals and welfare institutions run
5. To be a symbol of unity among Christian
forces and to promote that unity. by religious organizations may be continued.
The relationship between religious organiza­
6. To provide a means whereby churches and tions in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Christian organizations can speak and take Region and those in other parts of the People's
common action on social issues and on Republic of China shall be based on the
matters affecting the religious, moral, principles of non-subordination, non-
economic and social life of the community. interfernce, and mutual respect.

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