Page 53 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

democratic consciousness. Council for the last year.

Since the "restructuring" of the Council's
operation at the last AGM, the Council has The 43rd Annual General Meeting
condensed 7 functional committees into 3
departments, namely, Church Unity and The 43rd AGM was held on September 26,
Church Relations Department, Christian 1997 at the Hong Kong Council of the
Mission and Social Concern Department, Church of Christ in China. Thanks to the
and Human Resources Development Rev. Dr. LEE Chee-kong, Chairman of the
Department. The latter department is Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches
comparatively the more complicated and Union, who was our preacher, and to the
comprehensive one. However, after some host for providing a reception prior to the
adjustment and adaptation during the past meeting.
year, all departments are now functioning
well with higher efficiency, meeting the The annual reports were given by Elder
needs of a changing world. Simon Sit, the Chairman, and the General
Secretary. The 96/97 financial report and
Moreover, with the tireless efforts of the budget for 98/99 were presented and
members of the Finance Committee and adopted. New Executive members for the
Property Management Committee, the term 1997/99 were elected. The first
Council has sold the Cambridge Road Executive meeting was also held on
property at the peak of the market and October 6 electing a new slate of officers.
purchased an apartment on Tin Hau Temple (Please refer to this annual report on
Road for the General Secretary's residence, Executive Committee Member and
using the proceeds for diverse investment Officers.)
to strengthen the Council's financial
situation. The Council is still working on The AGM officially invited the Orthodox
the modification of use of the ground floor of Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and
the Christian Ecumenical Building and the Southeast Asia to be our Honorary Member.
redevelopment project of the Kwun Tong With the participation of the Orthodox
Vocational Training Centre site. Metropolitanate as an honorary member, a
new milestone has been established for the
Since the "handover", there are more church Council in the Ecumenical Movement in
people and journalists from overseas Hong Kong.
expressing their concerns in reference to
the current situation of Hong Kong.
Therefore, there are more visitors to Hong
Kong from other countries and the Ecumenical Fellowship
opportunities for meeting people of our
partner churches and agencies have also Due to the increasing concerns of the "post­
increased tremendously. Thus it has handover" situation in Hong Kong from
improved the Council's ecumenical role in overseas churches, especially from Europe
the past handover era. and North America, the tie between the
Council and our ecumenical partners has
We thank God for a smooth transition and been strengthened with frequent visits and
the full implementation of the "One Country, communication. Through mutual visits and
Two Systems" policy. Hereby, I sharing of concerns, overseas churches
respectfully share with my brothers and and ecumenical partners have a better
sisters the programs and activities of the understanding of Hong Kong, not only

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