388 Religion and Custom
Medical Service, Christian Family Service Centre, and Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital.
Roman Catholic Community
The Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong was established as a mission prefecture in 1841, as a vicariate apostolic in 1874 and as a diocese in 1946. There are about 240 000 Catholics in Hong Kong served by 297 priests, 66 brothers and 516 sisters. There are 52 parishes, comprising 40 churches, 33 chapels and 28 halls for religious services conducted in Cantonese; three-fifths of the parishes also provide services in English and, in some cases,
cases, Tagalog. The diocese has its own administrative structure while maintaining close links with the Pope and other Catholic communities around the world with which it shares the same creed, scripture, liturgy and organisation.
Along with its apostolic work, one of the prime concerns of the diocese has been the well-being of the community as a whole. In education, there are 313 Catholic schools and kindergartens with about 264 000 pupils. The schools are assisted by the Catholic Board of Education. Medical and social services include six hospitals, 15 clinics, 37 social and family service centres, 18 hostels, 13 homes for the aged, 19 rehabilitation service centres and many self-help clubs and associations. Caritas is the official social welfare arm of the Church in Hong Kong. These services are open to all, and, indeed, 95 per cent of those who have benefited from the wide range of services provided by the diocese are not Catholics.
To reach people through the media, the diocese publishes two weekly newspapers Kung Kao Po and the Sunday Examiner. The Diocesan Audio-Visual Centre produces films and videos for use in schools and parishes, while the Hong Kong Catholic Social Communications Office acts as an information and public relations channel for the diocese.
Muslim Community
There are about 90 000 Muslims in Hong Kong, of which some 30 000 are Chinese. The others are mostly locally born non-Chinese but there are also Muslims from Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Middle Eastern and African countries.
Coordinating all Islamic religious affairs is the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong, a public charity. A board of trustees, nominated by the Islamic Union of Hong Kong, the Pakistan Association, the Indian Muslim Association and the Dawoodi Bohra Association, manages and maintains the masjids, two cemeteries and one kindergarten. The trustees also organise Muslim festival celebrations and other religious events. Charitable work among the Muslim community, including financial aid for the needy, medical facilities and assisted education, is conducted through various Muslim organisations.
The Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternity Association, established in Wanchai in 1922, is the major organisation representing Chinese Muslims in Hong Kong. Apart from conducting religious activities, the association manages and maintains five non-profit educational facilities -one college, two primary schools and two