Page 63 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

General Secretary's Report
(September 1998 to August 1999)
Rev. Dr. TSO Man-king
Forward process. However, due to the uncertainty of the property
market and other reasons, no developer has yet been
Time really flies. Since I returned to Hong Kong in 1990. identified. However, thanks to members of the Property
accepting the invitation of the Council, I have already Development Working Group and some professionals, the
served as General Secretary for a maximum of 3 terms. As redevelopment project is being revitalized and taking a
I recall the roles the Council has played and the tasks it new beginning. It is hoped that the project will soon be
has performed before and after the "handover", I must say implemented.
that we have faced some stormy weather and turbulence
that need more reflection and evaluation. Some people In August 1998, Hong Kong experienced one of the most
might want to eagerly make judgment whether the serious economic downfalls in history. The Hang Seng
Council has provided a right direction during the stormy Index hit the bottom and property values dropped sharply.
weather, whether the church has been consolidated According to statistics. Hong Kong as a whole had a loss
towards unity, whether the democratic consciousness of of about 2,400 billion, just based on the loss of stock and
citizens of Hong Kong and the Church has been improved, property value alone. That means an average loss of 2
or whether the principle and contents of the “One million dollars per family. Definitely it was an economic
Country. Two Systems" policy have been implemented and disaster in Hong Kong. Because of the seriousness of the
consolidated. I think that we need more time, maybe economic situation, the Government had to intervene in
another 5 to 10 years, waiting for the test of history, the stock market to stabilize the economy, regardless of
before we can offer a fair "Final Judgment" to the function international criticism. Now, the economy seems to be
and role of the Hong Kong Christian Council during the improving; however, the unemployment rate is still
transition era. increasing with more than 200,000 people unemployed.
After a detailed discussion in the Christian Mission and
It has also been 5 years since the Council has accepted Social Concern Department, the Executive Committee
the invitation from the Lutheran Theological Seminary to endorsed a statement responding to the economic crisis in
jointly sponsor the "Doctor of Ministry Program", giving Hong Kong, appealing to the SAR Government, the
emphasis on the ecumenical spirit and contextual churches and all citizens for more concerned action.
theology and research methods. At present, there are
more than 30 D.Min. participants enrolled in the program As a matter of fact, the whole of Asia was affected by the
from 10 different countries and regions. The program not economic turbulence, especially some S.E. Asia countries
only prepares first class leadership for Hong Kong and suffering the most. For instance in Indonesia, there were
Mainland China, but also is meeting the needs of other the devaluation of the currency, the closure of many
related countries and regions, making the program banking and commercial businesses, high unemployment
international as well as improving the quality of learning. rate and social instability, causing the downfall of the
After 5 years, the cooperation and sponsorship may Suharto Government. Moreover, the violence in Indonesia,
change to a new form. I sincerely hope that this change religious conflict, the burning and destruction of churches
would enable the Council to make positive contribution to and mosques, as well as residences and shops owned by
the ecumenical movement. The Lutheran Theological citizens of Chinese descent, and the raping and killing of
Seminary highly treasures the joint sponsorship of the hundreds of Chinese women have captured the attention
program for the past 5 years. Being appointed by the of the whole world. The Hong Kong Christian Council sent
Council, I am privileged to participate in the promotion, a letter to the Communion of Churches in Indonesia
development, teaching and design of the program. expressing our concern towards the Indonesian situation,
with copies sent to the Indonesian Consulate General in
In 1994. the Lutheran World Federation transferred the Hong Kong, the World Council of Churches and Christian
property deed of the Ecumenical Building located in the Conference of Asia. I was also invited by WCC and CCA
business district in Tsimshatsui to the Council. The to participate in the pastoral visit to Indonesia from
Council wants to be a good steward of God to redevelop January 27 - February 3. 1999, expressing the world
the property and make the best use of it. The plan of Christian Community's concern for the Indonesian social
rebuilding the Kwun Tong Vocational Training Centre and situation. It is hoped that the situation would be
the redevelopment of the site has been an ongoing improved, the society would be stabilized, and people of

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