Same story of laid off ships, ships with a writ on; for one ship sold two others laid off; same big passenger ships visiting Hong Kong. But all had priest aboard, and so our services were not needed, except for the usual football matches & outings.
This year, thankfully, we were spared the havoc of typhoons.
Our record number of ships visited was in December: 195. And the
carol singing in harbour was a great success.
As special item for this year: from 15th to 20th of April, in Baguio (Philippines) took place a general meeting of the ICMA: International Christian Maritime Association, which groups all the church societies, of all denominations and of all over the world, taking care of seafarers. 130 participants, from all parts of the world, America, Africa, Europe, Australia and of course from the different countries of East Asia.
A real ecumenical meeting with protestant, anglicans, catholics mixing together, praying together & discussing the problems of seamen, especially those of the 3rd world & those working under flags of convenience. Resolutions were reached, urging Governments to look after the welfare of their seamen, and eliminate abuses.
Having ended their meeting in Baguio, most of the delegates found good to come and visit Hong Kong, and they appreciated the welcome at our Mariners' Club.
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The Danish Seamen's Church, Hong Kong
(contributed by the Reverend Hans Jensen, Chaplain)
The Danish Seamen's Church in Foreign Ports (DSCiFP) is operating 11 seamen's churches in major foreign ports. In addition there is a large number of other Scandinavian or international seamen's churches that also welcome Danish seafarers. The DSCiFP is an association headed by a board of Directors. The numbers of the Board of Directors are elected by the various "Seamen's Interest Groups" in Denmark, who support the work of the Seamen's Church. The Board is responsible for the seamen's churches abroad and for the hiring and posting of ministers, assistants, housekeepers etc. As ordained ministers of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran National Church the ministers are under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Copenhagen and the Dean of Holmens Kirke, Copenhagen. Thus the Danish Seamen's Church, Hong Kong is a part of the Danish National Church. This means that all Danish citizens in Hong Kong (seafarers or residents) who were members of the Danish National Church when they left Denmark, are considerate members of the Danish Seamen's Church, Hong Kong, provided they have not joined any other religious society.
The Church Committee in Hong Kong consists of the chairman Mr. Peter Rasmussen (manager of the East Asiatic Company, Hong Kong), Mr. Niels Jørgen Laustsen (manager of Maersk Line, Hong Kong), Mr. Kim J. Groenbaek (from The Danish Consulate General), Mrs. Irene Poulsen, the seamen's chaplain Hans Vestergaard Jensen, and the Very Rev. C. Harms (dean and chairman of the Board of Directors of the DSCiFP). The staff of the Danish Seamen's Church, Hong Kong consisted in 84/85 of the seamen's chaplain, Rev. Han Vestergaard Jensen and the chaplain's assistant, Mr. Jens Andersen.
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