ENG-1963 — Page 387

RELIGION

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as a Cathedral by Letters Patent from Queen Victoria in 1850. The London Missionary Society, whose representative arrived in Hong Kong within a year of the cession of the Colony to Britain, now works within the framework of the United Church, known as the Church of Christ in China. Some excellent schools and the well-known Nethersole Hospital owe their origin and development to this Society.

There are a small number of Russian Orthodox believers in the Colony. They are divided between those who recognize the present Patriarch of Moscow and those who do not. The former have their own church, founded in 1934, while the latter have inter-com- munion with the Anglicans and meet at St Andrew's Church, Kowloon. During the past decade there have been very few periods when there were not some European refugees of Russian origin in transit in Hong Kong on their way to new homes in various parts of the world, under arrangements made through the World Council of Churches, Service to Refugees, working closely with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration.

Some ten churches in the Colony hold their services in English, but the great majority of congregations are Chinese-speaking. Although several Chinese dialects are used, there has latterly been a marked trend towards a general use of Cantonese. The major world denominations are well represented by Adventists, Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Pentecostals, etc, with Presby- terians and others within the Church of Christ in China. In addition, there are over 60 locally-organized undenominational churches, many of whom are in contact with the main body of the Church through the Chinese Churches' Union. This old- established body provides both a forum for discussion and also a means of joint action on matters of local importance. Two Chinese Christian cemeteries are under its control, and it has an expanding work in caring for the aged. The basic understanding and com- munity of interest fostered in this way is an important factor in the religious life of Hong Kong.

The Protestant Churches meet together on a denominational basis in the Hong Kong Christian Council, together with missionary societies, the Salvation Army, the YMCA and the YWCA. The Hong Kong Christian Council is linked with the World Council