Director
Mr Ng Shui Lai
As we enter the year 2002 Hong Kong Christian
Service will have been serving the Hong Kong community for five
decades. In those years we grew with the people in Hong Kong,
faced challenges and shared in various opportunities. Fifty
years of dedication and commitment of service in Hong Kong has
become a powerful testimony for our local and international
Christian organizations to witness and to glorify God for His
blessings on us.
Reviewing our history will certainly help to reaffirm
our commitment for future years.
The Hong Kong Christian Welfare and Relief Council
was a local Christian organization established in 1952. The
Hong Kong Church World Service was part of the Church World
Service based in New York, which began its work in Hong Kong
in 1952.
In 1967, a merger between the Hong Kong Church
World service and the Hong Kong Christian Welfare and Relief
Council took place and the outcome was the new Hong Kong Christian
Service. It then became an auxiliary agency of the Hong Kong
Christian Council and in 1973 it became the Christian Council's
Service Unit in its Division of Service.
In 1960, the American Friends Lei Cheng UK Friendly
Centre merged with the Lutheran World Service, Hong Kong which
was part of the Lutheran World Federation Department of World
Service based in Geneva that began its work in Hong Kong in
1952.
In January 1976, the Lutheran World Service, Hong
Kong merged with the Hong Kong Christian Service and became
the service arm of the Hong Kong Christian Council.At that time,
a Management Committee whose members were appointed by the Executive
Committee of the Hong Kong Christian Council governed Hong Kong
Christian Service.
In January 1978, the World Council of Churches'
Migration Unit in Hong Kong also became an integral part of
Hong Kong Christian Service.
On April 25, 1986, Hong Kong Christian Service
was incorporated as a limited company under the Companies Ordinance.
All members of the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Christian
Council then became members of Hong Kong Christian Service.
Henceforth, a new Management Committee would be formed at each
Annual General Meeting.
Hong Kong Christian Service will continue the
tradition to express the Christian social concern and to serve
the Hong Kong community.
Hong Kong is always faced with rapid changes .
Social services must try to respond to its ever-changing needs.
As a social service organization, our primary mission is to
provide worthy programs and services for our society. However,
we shall not focus merely on the needs of the society but to
provide programs and services that reflect our values and philosophy.
Our core value is to serve and not to be served; and our belief
is people-centred. What we stand for compels us to reach out
through holistic approaches to enhance human development and
in the contribution of seeing a society that is humane and just.
We believe to affirm the dignity and uniqueness
of an individual. Every single person is endowed with intrinsic
values and possessed with possibilities. On this affirmation,
we engage not only in the provision of services, but also in
stimulating initiatives and participations among people towards
building a caring community. We shall continue to move forward
with this affirmation.
We are convinced that a good society is a free,
democratic and caring society in that people live in peace,
enjoy the fruits of their labour and are encouraged to develop
their unique gifts in interdependence. For this reason, we actively
seek to be along side with people in influencing the formulation
of public policies and monitoring their implementation. We shall
enter the next 50 years with this conviction.
