Page 93 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

Supplement B

L u n a r N e w Y e a r M e s s a g e
F r o m L e a d e r s O f S i x R e l i g i o n s ( 2 0 0 0 )

(February 3, 2000)

The Six Religious Leaders wish you many blessings and new hope in this first Spring of the new century. We
declare our commitment to march forward with our people and, together, help create a new Hong Kong.

During the last century, Hong Kong was deeply influenced by western thought, and in practice a solid
foundation for rule of law was laid. However, we did not develop a full appreciation and knowledge of our
Chinese culture and therefore, we earnestly appeal to the educational authorities to lay greater stress on the
importance of Chinese culture and ethics in their future planning of our educational direction and curriculum
development.
Religion leads people to peace and harmony. This peace and harmony are necessary for the education of our
young people, an education which should lead to the establishment of a good society. We hope that the media
will exercise self-restraint and necessary censorship to avoid contaminating the minds of our people.

Religion encourages people to live a positive, full life in the pursuit of real happiness and to exercise fully one's
own religious beliefs. Our society puts great stress on economic success and monetary achievements, which in
turn promotes a psychology of speculation, leading to gambling, drug-trafficking and smuggling. These evils
damage both body and mind. We, the Six Religious Leaders, uphold the moral values of society and denounce
excessive worldly comforts and opportunist attitudes.

Sadly, the divorce rate in Hong Kong is very high. This shows that people are facing a great challenge in
sustaining true love and fidelity. At present, when the harmony of our society is affected by the lowering of
family values, religious beliefs will help strengthen people in this time of insecurity.
Religion assists people to be merciful, loving and caring towards the poor, the weak, the needy, the
disadvantaged, ensuring that they are not neglected but that they can live their lives with human dignity.

The new century is full of hope and the Six Religious Leaders appeal to people to put aside political ideologies
and other differences for the sake of peace, helping to build a harmonious society and to preserve our world
environment. A

Rev. LI Ping Kwong Mr. TONG Yun Kai Mr. Ayyus TUET Che Yin
Chairperson President Chairman
Hong Kong Christian Council Hong Kong Confucian Academy The Chinese Muslim Cultural &
Fraternal Association

Cardinal John B. WU Mr. TONG Kwok Wah Ven. KOK Kwong
Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong President President
The Hong Kong Taoist The Hong Kong Buddhist
Association Association

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