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Chairperson’s Remarks

                                      Mr. Simon P.  K. Sit

    Thanks be to God for His mercy and guidance all   been  shown  that  the  Council  is  abiding  by  its
    through the year under report that has enabled the   objective  in  initiating  and  carrying  out  different
    Hong  Kong  Christian  Council  to  accomplish  its   kinds  of tasks  and  missions with  consistent and
    tasks smoothly.  The Council has not only worked   enthusiastic efforts.  Especially in recent years, the
    hard on its normal routine, but has also developed   Council  has  not  only  worked  very  hard  on  the
    new tasks according to a planned schedule that has   organization  of a series of mission consultations,
    furthered cooperation  and  utilized resources  in  a   but has also helped  promote mutual  contact with
    more flexible and effective manner.            the churches and Christians in China.

    It  has  been  41  years  since  the  founding  of  the   Now, it is time for the Council to assess its work. In
    Council.  During the past years,  members  of the   retrospect,  I  can  say  that  the  Council  has  been
    Council have made very good efforts in promoting   effective  in  organizing joint  mission  projects,  in
    the  work  of the  Council  and  have  demonstrated   taking  up  its  prophetic  and  mediatorial  role,  in
    their  full  and  loyal  support  for  the  Council  by   making  positive  efforts  to  promote  ecumenical
    holding fast to the objective that was laid down at   relations  and  in  carrying  out  social  action
    the  time  of  the  establishment  of  the  Council.   programmes. All these contributions were made to
    Simply speaking, the objective of the Council is to   meet the needs of the churches, of society in general
    motivate the churches of Hong Kong to witness as   and  of Christian  individuals,  and  they  were  well
    one  and  to  promote  Christian  missions.  The   received  by  most  of  the  Christian  community.
    Council's  purposes  are  to  serve  the  people  of   Therefore,  the  work  of the  Council,  in  my  own
    Hong Kong, to support positive change in  society   view,  has  been  very  meaningful  and  challenging
    and  to  work  for  the  sake  of  the  people  of   and  worth  our whole-hearted participation.  I am
    Hong Kong.                                     sure  the  Council's  role,  the  direction  of  its
                                                   endeavours  and  the  tasks  it  seeks  to  accomplish
    Besides, the Council also aims at maintaining close   generally fall in line with the wishes of the majority
    relationships with overseas church partners in order   in the Christian Community of Hong Kong.  This is
    to share mutual concerns and resources. The Council   the  reason  why  I  think  the  Council's  aims  and
    acts as a symbolic entity of the churches in Hong   activities are both beneficial and acceptable to the
    Kong  in  order  to  enhance  unity  in  spirit  and  in   Christian Community, and it must continue to keep
    action. As a whole, the main concern of the Council   setting the pace along similar lines for the churches
    is to unite the churches and Christian organizations   of Hong Kong in the years to come.
    of Hong Kong in order to achieve the ultimate goal
    — the promotion of church unity and social concern   When we evaluate the past and look forward to the
    through joint mission work.                    future,  we  need  to,  give  thanks  to  God  for  His
                                                   gracious love and guidance that make the fulfillment
    In the past year, the Council has worked actively   of our task possible.  On behalf of the Council and
    and positively to achieve real progress, and  in so   the  Executive  Committee,  I  would  also  like  to
    doing  has  gained  a  lot  of support  from,  and  the   convey our sincere thanks to all our colleagues who
    confidence  of,  many  churches  and  Christians.   worked loyally and diligently for the Council during
    Among all tasks, the “Five Loaves and Two Fish”   this year.  May the Lord's blessings be upon them
    campaign has proved to be the most outstanding, as   abundantly.  May all the honor and glory be to  our
    it has been  well received and supported.  It has also  God the Almighty.
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