Page 52 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

General Secretary's Report
(September 1997 - August 1998)

Rev. Dr. TSO Man-king

Forward business and the construction business.
The unemployment rate has gone up to
The giant wheel of history keeps rolling 4.5% in the second quarter this year.
forward. It has been a year since the Instead of the political future, Hong Kong
"handover" of Hong Kong back to China. A people are more concerned about how to
year ago while Hong Kong was still under increase employment opportunities and to
the sovereignty of the British, there was improve the economic situation. What
political uncertainty overcasting the future. broke the camel's back is the disastrous
Many foreign journalists and reporters confusion since the first day of the operation
painted a bleak picture of Hong Kong as if of the new airport which cost 155 billion
the "handover" would be the doomsday. Hong Kong dollars for the construction of
Mr. Mike Chinoy, director of CNN's Hong the whole system. Originally it was a
Kong office, even predicted the arrest of Mr. symbol of pride for the people after the
Martin Lee, Chairman of the Democratic handover, however, it ends up as an
Party, by the People's Liberation Army after international disgrace. The loss is beyond
the "handover". comprehension. Hong Kong people need
to be awakened from the deep slumber and
During the past year, leaders of the China reflect deeply on the implication and
Government reaffirmed again and again the meaning of all these things that have
policy of "One Country, Two Systems , so happened to Hong Kong.
that "Hong Kong people govern Hong Kong
with a high degree of autonomy" would be During the past year, the Hong Kong
fully implemented. Mr. Jiang Zhemin also Christian Council has faced tremendous
reminded the high officials not to interfere in impact, tests and challenges. What is
the internal affairs of Hong Kong. From the most concerned with the public, especially
political perspective, the policy of "One the church, was the promotion of "direct
Country, Two Systems" seems to be quite election within the church". Among great
stable at the present time. Mr. Chinoy's diversity of opinions, the Council has
concerns did not happen. Recently he managed to select 7 individuals to
even strongly stated that there is still represent the Christian sector serving as
freedom of speech, freedom of the press members of the "Election Committee" of the
and that nothing much has changed. SAR Government. The whole election
process was to promote democracy and to
On the other hand, what Hong Kong people elevate citizens' identity and responsibility
have the strongest confidence in - through the "direct election within the
"Economic Prosperity" - received a severe church".
blow by the turbulent economic down fall
from southeast Asian countries. It has Two weeks prior to the first election of the
created the worst economic crisis in the last Legislative Council of the SAR Government,
13 years for Hong Kong. The Hang Seng the Council coordinated 5 regional "Open
Index has fallen about 50% since October Forums", inviting citizens to meet and
of last year. It has crumbled the tourist discuss with Legislative Council candidates
business, the garment industries, the retail in person, as a means to deepen the

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