RELIGION AND CUSTOM
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world denominations are represented in the Adventists, Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists and Pentecostals, while churches of a Presbyterian type are joined in the Church of Christ in China. There are, in addition, a number of undenominational churches.
The churches are responsible for approximately 164 primary schools and 101 middle schools and colleges in the Colony, a number which may be expected to increase with the growing population. They also sponsor hospitals, clinics, orphanages, and social service centres. While some funds for social service are locally raised, generous contributions are received from outside the Colony, many of them channelled through the Hong Kong Christian Service.
Churches which are in relationship with the World Council of Churches come together with missionary societies, YMCA, YWCA, and other groups in the Hong Kong Christian Council. The council's new headquarters, the Christian Centre, houses the offices of the Hong Kong Christian Service, the Audio Visual Evangelism Com- mittee and the Chinese Christian Literature Council and there is an Ecumenical Library and conference room. A near neighbour in the same building is the old-established Chinese Churches Union, in which churches are linked on a congregational basis.
The Hong Kong Christian Council was established in 1954. Its membership is by Denomination, Association or Mission. It now has a membership of 22 major church bodies and Christian organisa- tions (12 Churches, six Christian Organisations and four Missions). Hong Kong Christian Council members represent 75 per cent of the total Protestant Church membership in Hong Kong.
The Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong dates also back to the beginning of the Colony. The first priests to arrive were chaplains with the British Army. On April 23, 1841, Pope Gregory XVI established the Apostolic Prefecture of Hong Kong with Msgr Theodore Joset as the first prefect. He built a permanent church, established a seminary to train Chinese priests, and brought in religious sisters to start schools and welfare institutions.
The Most Rev Francis Hsu, who had been consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Hong Kong a year earlier, was formally installed on October 26, 1969, the first Chinese bishop of the 130-year old Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong.