wfn.org | Optimism for Hong Kong

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3212 notes).

Note 3208 by UMNS on Oct. 4, 1996 at 15:33 Eastern (6862 characters).

SEARCH: Hong Kong, China, Christian
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Bloom                              494(10-71){3208}
         New York (212) 870-3803                      Oct. 4, 1996

Church leaders optimistic over
transition of power in Hong Kong

by United Methodist News Service

     Three Hong Kong Christian leaders are optimistic that the
colony's 1997 transition of power from Great Britain to China will
not jeopardize religious freedom.
     The Rev. Tso Man-King, general secretary of the Hong Kong
Christian Council, told United Methodist News Service that a 1984
joint declaration by the British and Chinese governments assures a
policy of "one country, two systems" over the next 50 years when
Hong Kong becomes a Special Administrative Region of China on July
1, 1997.
     The policy is designed to allow Hong Kong to maintain its
capitalist system and current way of life, despite China's
control.
     However, the Hong Kong Christian Council -- which includes
the Methodist Church there -- is asking its ecumenical partners
around the world to remember Hong Kong specifically from June 15
to July 15, 1997, as the historic transition takes place.
     "Of course, there is no such thing as no change, but it
doesn't mean we're going backwards," said the Rev. Lincoln L.H.
Leung, president of the Methodist Church, Hong Kong, which has 19
congregations. "The church will carry on."
     Tso said the council will encourage citizens to accept the
reality of the changeover and make the system work. He also
stressed the need to re-establish a national identity among those
educated under the British system. "The church needs to strengthen
their national identity as Chinese ... to bring back the pride of
being Chinese," he explained.
     The council already has been "building bridges and rapport
with the churches in China," according to Tso, and now other
Christian groups in Hong Kong are doing likewise.
     The Rev. Ewing (Bud) Carroll, a United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries executive who lived in Hong Kong from 1966 to
1986, doesn't expect the transition to interfere with current
mission work.
     But he noted that local church leaders are pragmatic about
the changeover. "There are no blinders on their eyes," he
explained. "They recognize there could be all kinds of
difficulties but they also see opportunities for new forms of
witness."
     Approximately 8 to 10 percent of Hong Kong's 6.3 million
residents are Christian and some have decided not to stay. The
Rev. Lee Ching Chee, associate general secretary, The Church of
Christ in China, Hong Kong Council, said that one in five of
residents who have recently moved elsewhere were Christian.
     However, she added, Hong Kong has always had its historical
periods of emigration -- first for economic betterment, later for
educational opportunities and now for political reasons.
     In fact, Tso said, the feared "brain drain" from Hong Kong as
the transition period neared has turned into a "brain gain"
because of high salaries and economic prosperity which "attracts a
lot of people."
     The colony's population has grown by two percent a year,
according to Tso, including the allotment of 150 immigrants per
day from China.          
#  #  #
     

SEARCH: Hong Kong, China, Christian
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Bloom                              494(10-71){3208}
         New York (212) 870-3803                      Oct. 4, 1996

Church leaders optimistic over
transition of power in Hong Kong

by United Methodist News Service

     Three Hong Kong Christian leaders are optimistic that the
colony's 1997 transition of power from Great Britain to China will
not jeopardize religious freedom.
     The Rev. Tso Man-King, general secretary of the Hong Kong
Christian Council, told United Methodist News Service that a 1984
joint declaration by the British and Chinese governments assures a
policy of "one country, two systems" over the next 50 years when
Hong Kong becomes a Special Administrative Region of China on July
1, 1997.
     The policy is designed to allow Hong Kong to maintain its
capitalist system and current way of life, despite China's
control.
     However, the Hong Kong Christian Council -- which includes
the Methodist Church there -- is asking its ecumenical partners
around the world to remember Hong Kong specifically from June 15
to July 15, 1997, as the historic transition takes place.
     "Of course, there is no such thing as no change, but it
doesn't mean we're going backwards," said the Rev. Lincoln L.H.
Leung, president of the Methodist Church, Hong Kong, which has 19
congregations. "The church will carry on."
     Tso said the council will encourage citizens to accept the
reality of the changeover and make the system work. He also
stressed the need to re-establish a national identity among those
educated under the British system. "The church needs to strengthen
their national identity as Chinese ... to bring back the pride of
being Chinese," he explained.
     The council already has been "building bridges and rapport
with the churches in China," according to Tso, and now other
Christian groups in Hong Kong are doing likewise.
     The Rev. Ewing (Bud) Carroll, a United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries executive who lived in Hong Kong from 1966 to
1986, doesn't expect the transition to interfere with current
mission work.
     But he noted that local church leaders are pragmatic about
the changeover. "There are no blinders on their eyes," he
explained. "They recognize there could be all kinds of
difficulties but they also see opportunities for new forms of
witness."
     Approximately 8 to 10 percent of Hong Kong's 6.3 million
residents are Christian and some have decided not to stay. The
Rev. Lee Ching Chee, associate general secretary, The Church of
Christ in China, Hong Kong Council, said that one in five of
residents who have recently moved elsewhere were Christian.
     However, she added, Hong Kong has always had its historical
periods of emigration -- first for economic betterment, later for
educational opportunities and now for political reasons.
     In fact, Tso said, the feared "brain drain" from Hong Kong as
the transition period neared has turned into a "brain gain"
because of high salaries and economic prosperity which "attracts a
lot of people."
     The colony's population has grown by two percent a year,
according to Tso, including the allotment of 150 immigrants per
day from China.          
#  #  #
     

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