wfn.org | HONG KONG CHRISTIAN LEADERS PLAN FOR 1997 TRANSITION

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
CONTACT:  Betty Thompson
212/870-2048 - FAX 212/870-2030
Internet: c/o carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

NCC9/25/96                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HONG KONG CHRISTIAN LEADERS PLAN FOR TRANSITION IN 1997

 NEW YORK, Sept. 24 ---- A plea for continued prayer
and interest of North American Christians was expressed by
a delegation from the Hong Kong Christian Council today
(Sept. 24) as they discussed the transition of Hong Kong
from British control to the sovereignty of the People's
Republic of China in 1997.

 Speaking at a luncheon held by the National Council
of Churches, Dr. Tso Man-king, general secretary of the
Hong Kong Christian Council, asked the audience of 60
church and mission leaders to stand in solidarity with the
people of Hong Kong and help them to have courage and hope.
The Hong Kong based Council is sponsoring an international
prayer chain.

 "Our ecumenical partners around the world are asked
to remember Hong Kong specifically in the period from June
15, 1997 to July 15, 1997," Dr. Tso said.

 The Hong Kong Christian Council is the cooperative
council of mainline denominations and Christian
organizations in Hong Kong.  The Chinese YMCA, the Hong
Kong YWCA, the Hong Kong Bible Society, and other Christian
organizations as well as a dozen denominations are members.

 Dr. Tso said that Christians are being urged to take
a big leap of faith into the future as "we work, talk, and
walk together."  A practical example of the way Christians
in Hong Kong are being prepared for the future was
described by Dr. Lee Ching-chee, associate general
secretary of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ
in China.  She has arranged for young ministers from Hong
Kong to visit the People's Republic and become acquainted
with their counterparts there.

 The prayer guide published by the Hong Kong Christian
Council asks partners to pray for unity, commitment, social
justice, and freedom of conscience and religion.  It also
asks that prayer be made for cooperation and unity between
the churches of Hong Kong and mainland China.  "May both
churches learn from each other and offer assistance to each
other in the love of Jesus Christ."

 The luncheon, held during a meeting of the East Asia
and Pacific Committee of the National Council's Church
World Service and Witness Unit, also honored the Rev.
Lincoln H. Leung, president of the Hong Kong Methodist
Church, and Bishop Roman Tiples of the Philippine
Independent Church who is general secretary of the National
Council of Churches in the Philippines.

 The delegation from Hong Kong is visiting the U.S. (New York City;
Seattle; Des Moines; Washington, D.C.; Lancaster, Pa., and Harrisburg, Pa.)
Sept. 17-30 during the period when U.S. churches are studying China and
Hong Kong with resources prepared by the NCC's Friendship Press.

 Under a 1984 Joint Declaration of the British and
Chinese governments, Hong Kong will become a Special
Administrative Region of China.  The policy calls for "one
country, two systems"; Hong Kong is expected to maintain
its present lifestyle for the next 50 years.  Hong Kong
Christians are asking the ecumenical community to pray for
the peace and well-being of Hong Kong's six million
residents in the time of transition and beyond.

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