ENG-2020 — Page 377

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Religion and Custom

Christianity

The Christian community numbers about 1.2 million, most of whom are Protestants and Roman Catholics. The Greek, Russian and Coptic Orthodox Churches also have a presence in Hong Kong.

Protestant Community

The local Protestant movement began in 1841 and Hong Kong now has about 800,000 Christians, more than 300,000 of whom attend church services regularly, according to the Hong Kong Christian Council and surveys done by research institutes. They make up 70-odd denominations and no fewer than 400 independent churches in at least 1,500 congregations, about 1,300 of which are Chinese-speaking. These include indigenous denominations like the Church of Christ in China (representing Presbyterian and Congregational traditions); Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui; the Methodist Church, Hong Kong; True Jesus Church and Local Church (the Little Flock). Cooperation among the churches is facilitated by the Christian Council and Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union.

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The Protestant community runs three tertiary institutions - the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Chung Chi College, Hong Kong Baptist University and Lingnan University - about 180 secondary schools, 200 primary schools, 260 kindergartens, 130 nurseries, over 20 theological schools, 80 publishing houses, 110 bookstores and 55 media, audio-visual production and art groups. Media materials produced include the weekly Christian Times and Christian Weekly, regular television programmes and weekly radio shows on RTHK.

Seven hospitals and 17 clinics are under Protestant management, as are about 110 social welfare organisations that provide services at over 100 centres for families and youths, 11 children's homes, 170 elderly centres and nursing homes, and about 60 rehabilitation centres for drug addicts and the disabled. There are some 50 hospital chaplaincies, three prison chaplaincies, one airport chaplaincy and around 25 campsites.

Some 730 para-church agencies attend to the Protestant community's needs and support emergency relief and development projects. More than 450 missionaries serve abroad.

Roman Catholic Community

The Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong was established as a mission prefecture in 1841 and became a diocese in 1946. The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong calculates there are about 404,000 Catholics served by 279 priests, 74 brothers and 427 sisters in 52 parishes, comprising 39 churches, 32 chapels and 28 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 round the world.

Through the assistance of the Catholic Education Office, 249 Catholic schools and kindergartens impart education to 145,875 pupils. Caritas-Hong Kong is the diocese's official social welfare arm, offering services to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. It provides medical and social services to at least six hospitals, 13 clinics, 47 social and family service centres, 23 hostels,

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