ENG-1981 — Page 266

RELIGION AND CUSTOM

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Presbyterian and Reformed traditions. The protestant Christian groups are responsible for 168 primary schools, some 115 secondary schools and three post-secondary colleges. There are three schools for the deaf and several for training the mentally handicapped. There are 15 Theological Seminaries and Bible Institutes.

A significant event during the year was the installation of the first Chinese bishop for the Anglican Diocese of Hong Kong and Macau, the Rt Revd. Peter K. K. Kwong. Bishop Kwong was elected the ninth bishop of the diocese at a Synod meeting in December 1980 following the retirement of Bishop Gilbert Baker. Bishop Kwong's enthronement took place on April 3, 1981 at St John's Cathedral.

From March 22 through April 9, there was an historic visit to Hong Kong by an eight member delegation from the newly formed China Christian Council, led by its chairman, the Rt Revd. K. H. Ting, to meet Protestant Christian leaders of the Asia region.

Co-operative work is facilitated by two organisations, the Chinese Christian Churches Union and the Hong Kong Christian Council. The oldest, the Union, bases its membership on congregations, and has 218 members. Its work is carried out through departments of evangelism, Christian education, charities, cemeteries and information.

The Hong Kong Christian Council membership is based on denominations and organisations. The Young Women's Christian Association, the Young Men's Christian Associations, The Ecumenical Study Centre, the Hong Kong Bible Society, the Chinese Christian Literature Council, together with the major denominations and other groups form the Council's membership. The Christian Council is committed to building a closer relationship between all churches in Hong Kong as well as with churches overseas, and to stimulate local Christians to minister to the needs of the people of Hong Kong. This is achieved through several operational bodies including Hong Kong Christian Service, the Communications Department, the Industrial Committee, and the United Christian Medical Service.

In 1981 the council through its education office, began publication of a series of religious text books called Faith and Life. The series is designed to help Bible teachers in all five forms of middle schools.

Muslim Community

There are about 30 000 followers of Islam in Hong Kong. The majority are Chinese, with the rest from Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East. During 1981, they mainly gathered for prayers at the Shelley Street Mosque on Hong Kong Island, and at the Kowloon temporary mosque adjacent to the site of the former Kowloon Mosque which was demolished in 1980.

Built in 1896 for use by Muslim soldiers of the former Indian Army, and subsequently handed over to the Muslim community, the Kowloon Mosque had badly deteriorated with age. Rebuilding is going ahead on the site and it is envisaged a beautiful new mosque will be completed towards the end of 1982.

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A mosque situated at Wong Nai Chung Road also was demolished in December, 1978 to make way for the Aberdeen Tunnel project. However, the government made available a site in Oi Kwan Road, Morrison Hill on which the new Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre was opened in September 1981.

The Shelley Street Mosque, the first to be built in Hong Kong, dates back to the introduction of the Islamic faith in the 1880s. It was rebuilt in 1915.

Two places have been set aside by the government as burial grounds for Muslims. One is at Happy Valley and the other at Cape Collinson, Chai Wan.