ENG-2007 — Page 427

Religion and Custom | 363

programmes regularly and four weekly Christian radio programmes on Television Hong Kong (RTHK).

Radio

More than 250 para-church agencies and different Christian action groups attend to the needs of the Protestant community, respond to some issues that affect Hong Kong society and support emergency relief and development projects in Mainland China and developing countries. There are currently more than 400 missionaries from Hong Kong serving overseas.

The Protestant community runs seven hospitals and 18 clinics. Sixty social welfare organisations provide a wide range of services at more than 250 community (family/youth) service centres, 75 day care centres, 17 children's homes, 35 homes for the elderly, more than 100 centres for the elderly, 47 training centres for the mentally handicapped and disabled, 25 drug rehabilitation centres, and chaplaincy services for prisons, hospitals and the airport. There are also 15 campsites. The YMCA and YWCA manage five international hotel-style guesthouses.

Two ecumenical bodies, the Hong Kong Christian Council and the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Church Union, facilitate cooperative work among the Protestant churches in Hong Kong. The Chinese Christian Church Union was established in 1915 and has a current membership of more than 300 congregations. The Hong Kong Christian Council was formed in 1954 and is a member of the World Council of Churches. Its members — major denominations, ecumenical service agencies and the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia - are committed to building a closer relationship among all churches in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas. The Council also encourages local Christians to play an active part in the development of Hong Kong society. It seeks to serve the wider community through its affiliated organisations such as the Hong Kong Christian Service, Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee, United Christian 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; became a vicariate apostolic in 1874; and a diocese in 1946. There are about 246 000 Catholics in Hong Kong served by 290 priests, 72 brothers and 508 sisters. There are 53 parishes, comprising 41 churches, 31 chapels and 27 halls for religious services conducted in Cantonese; three-fifths of the parishes also provide services in English and, in some cases, Tagalog, the Filipino language. 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 is the well-being of the community as a whole. The diocese has 297 Catholic schools and kindergartens catering to about 240 000 pupils. The schools are assisted by the Catholic Education Office. Medical and social services are provided to at least six hospitals, 13 clinics, 39 social and family service centres, 18 hostels, 13 homes for the aged, 20 rehabilitation service centres and many self-help clubs and associations.