Page 192 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

The Unknown Way

Rev. Dr. Chan Kim-kwong

D uring the first tw enty-five years of the H K C C , for K ong can bless the people in C hina by sharing
obvious political reasons, there w as no form al G od-given resources.
contact w ith the C hurch in C hina. Since the re-
em ergence o f the C hinese C hurch in 1979, H K CC A s C hina continues its R eform and O pen policy,
has actively initiated contacts w ith the C hurch in and H ong K ong heads tow ard reunification w ith
C hina, and prom oted exchanges betw een the C hina in 1997, H K C C has been playing an
C hurches in H ong K ong and in C hina. These im portant role in bridging the C hurch in H ong
exchanges have increased steadily during the past K ong and the C hurch in C hina. H K C C , being an
15 years. O ne significant exam ple is the first visit ecum enical body representing the H ong K ong
o f the C hinese C hristian D elegation since 1949 to C hristian com m unity, is in a unique position to
H ong K ong in 1981. Subsequently, these contacts develop new frontiers o f m inistry to C hina. In this
w ith various churches in C hina have extended critical historical m om ent, the H K C C w ill continue
beyond the national level and into the provincial to carry out its ecum enical m andate to prom ote
level such as G uangdong, Jiangsu and Z hejiang. closer ties betw een C hurches in H ong K ong and in
A t the sam e tim e, H K C C organised visits o f the C hina. In this general direction, the H K C C m ay
youths and laity to the churches in C hina. consider the follow ing points:
Recently, H K C C even invited C hristian youths to
visit H ong K ong churches and C hristians. T hese
1. D eepening the Level o f E xchange
exchange visits deepen m utual understanding
T he ties betw een H ong K ong and C hina
betw een the H ong K ong and C hinese churches.
(especially G uangdong) are getting closer
every day. T he m igration o f population too is on
B esides prom oting friendly relationships betw een the increase betw een these tw o regions. In
churches in C hina and in H ong K ong, the H K CC reality, H ong K ong m ay soon be regarded as
also expresses the concerns o f the H ong K ong an integrated entity o f the C hinese social
C hristian com m unity about the religious situation structure. O ne can hardly ignore C hina as one
in C hina especially the issue of religious freedom in m inisters to the needs o f H ong K ong C hristians.
H ong K ong in the ftiture. H K C C has established W ith the principle o f m utual respect and co­
contacts w ith C hinese agencies w hich deal w ith operation, there seem s to be a need for closer
religious affairs. H K C C also serves the C hinese
pastoral co-operation betw een the churches in
society by channelling relief aid to needy
H ong K ong and in C hina. T herefore, the
com m unities and supporting various social service C hristian exchanges betw een these two regions
and rural developm ent projects. T hese projects, a can go beyond friendly visits and into joint-
symbol o f C hrist's love through H ong K ong
venture m inisterial program s such as C hristian
C hristians, are located both in different regions of
education, theological training, pastoral
G uangdong and in other provinces such as
w orkshop, publications....etc. T here are already
H eilungjiang, Shangdong, Jiangsu, Z hejiang and
signs indicating such developm ent: four
A nhui. Tw o years ago H K C C initiated the
theological students from H ong K ong are doing
"Project N ehem iah " helping C hinese rural
pastoral internships in G uangdong this sum m er
C hristian com m unities to rebuild church buildings.
and two faculty m em bers from G uangdong
All these services and contacts, on the one hand, U nion T heological Sem inary w ill com e to H ong
enable the C hristians in H ong K ong to have a
K ong for theological studies. H K C C can be a
fuller picture o f the social reality in C hina and the
pioneer to explore these areas o f exchange.
C hinese C hurch. C hristians in H ong K ong are
often encouraged by the testim onies o f the C hinese 2. W idening o f C ontacts
C hristians as they w itness for their C hristian faith D uring the past, the representation in exchanges
in C hina. O n the other hand, C hristians in H ong initiated by H K C C betw een the C hurches in

188