ENG-2003 — Page 462

RELIGION AND CUSTOM

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About 239 400 people are Catholics. They were served in 2003 by 309 priests, 60 brothers and 519 sisters. There are 52 parishes, comprising 40 churches, 31 chapels and 28 halls for religious service. Services are conducted in Chinese with three-fifths of the parishes also providing services in English, and in Tagalog in some cases.

The diocese has established its own administrative structure while maintaining close links with the Pope and other Catholic communities around the world. It has the same creed, scripture, liturgy and organisation as the other Catholic communities world- wide. The assistant secretary-general of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference has his office in Hong Kong.

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 320 Catholic schools and kindergartens which have about 286 000 pupils. There is the Catholic Board of Education to assist in this area. The medical and social services include six hospitals, 15 clinics, 13 social centres, 15 hostels, 12 homes for the aged, 15 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 people. 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. In addition, the Diocesan Audio-Visual Centre produces tapes and films for use in schools and parishes and, overall, the Hong Kong Catholic Social Communications Office acts as an information and public relations channel for the diocese.

Muslim Community

The Muslim community in Hong Kong is estimated to number up to 70 000. More than half are Chinese, with the rest being either locally born non-Chinese or believers from Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Middle Eastern and African countries. The Chinese Muslim Cultural & Fraternal Association is the major body representing the Chinese Muslims in Hong Kong. It was established in 1922 at No. 7 Chan Tong Lane, Wan Chai, and was incorporated as a charity organisation in 1963. Apart from conducting religious activities for the Chinese Muslims, the association manages and maintains six non-profit making schools including one college, two primary schools and three kindergartens.

Four principal masjids are used daily for prayers. The oldest is the Jamia Masjid in Shelley Street on Hong Kong Island, which was established in 1849 and rebuilt in 1915. It can accommodate a congregation of 400.

The Masjid Ammar and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre, occupying eight storeys, was opened in 1981 and houses a masjid on two floors, a community hall, a library, a medical clinic, classrooms and offices. The masjid is managed by the Islamic Union of Hong Kong and accommodates 700 people but, if necessary, can hold up to 1 500 by using other space in the centre.

The Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre, in Nathan Road, was opened in 1984 and replaced a masjid built in 1896. This imposing building, with white marble finishing, is a landmark in Tsim Sha Tsui. The masjid can accommodate about 2000 worshippers and has three prayer halls, a community hall, a medical clinic and a library.