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ASIA LUTHERAN HOME previous article next article December 1997

Rev. Dr. Tso Man-King, General Secretary of the HKCC talks with the Asia Lutheran about the Handover. This is a summary of Rev. Tso's discussion with AL.

November 29, 1997

The Hong Kong Christian Council emphasizes relationships between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The value and political systems are very different and we are now working to rebuild our relationship. Since 1979, the HKCC was one of the earliest bodies to re-establish working relations with the Mainland.

I have just returned from a trip to Yunnan province located on the border of Thailand and Burma, as part of a delegation for a week to start new projects among the tribal groups. Our 13-member delegation from various organizations visited six different mountain tribes. We would like to start new churches among those people.

We want to function as a bridge between HK and China, to give an objective interpretation in China. The media in the West has traditionally misinterpreted events in HK and China. We have relations with the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and through that connection I was asked to speak and lead sessions on leadership at three different Global Mission Conferences: the Presbyterian, Northern Baptist and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Some American people have a great misunderstanding of the HK Handover. At every conference, people asked, "What will you do after the Handover?" as if it would be the end of the world, or the end of Hong Kong's freedom.

I know the thought pattern of the West. I lived in the United States for 25 years and my children were born there. However, I was born in China and I know we are living under the shadow of our history, our past.

China is no longer the China of the past! They allow private ownership. They plan to change. China is no longer a communist country. There is no way, not a single possibility to go back to the past! They are doing well today. Deng Xiaoping was purged three times by his own people! But, he saw the conflicts in communism. And the policy for one-country two systems is a brilliant and creative policy.

Those who thought they were playing a prophetic role before the Handover were sadly mistaken. They caused people to flee the country. Some people are now treated as second, even third class citizens in other countries. They sold their property and left their jobs. People suffer so much because of the prophetic groups creating fear and phobia for the citizens of Hong Kong.

Less than two weeks ago, an international bank owned by Arabians-a small but well run bank- had to be backed up by the Hong Kong government. A rumor began that the bank was failing and people lined up for 24 hours before the bank opened because they thought their money wasn't safe. The government brought the money into the bank in secure boxes accompanied by security to reassure the people that they could withdraw all of their money.

Another story similar to this revolves around a cake store. This particular store is well-know to provide certificates which can be exchanged for cakes. Couples getting married often give these cake-certificates as gifts to their wedding guests. A rumor began, and soon there was a rush on the cake shop of people who didn't think they could redeem their certificates. Another long line developed when there was no reason to worry. This kind of panicking is happening because of people's fear.

The Hong Kong Christian Council is trying to stabilize Hong Kong and to walk together with its citizens and churches; to give an alternative opinion. We will move beyond 1997 steadily without proclaiming a prophetic role. We will continue to inform the whole world what is actually happening in Hong Kong. We thank God that we could make it through this change.

During the Handover, the Western Media was looking for excitement. Riots or traumatic events didn't occur, and they were disappointed and even said it was boring. Because of these reports, 1/2 million people in Hong Kong suffered. Rhetorically speaking, "the prophetic" groups or so called "front-line" churches caused great pain to Hong Kong citizens and they were supported by the West. The HKCC is not supported with even a penny from the West. We help all people in the world and tell what is actually happening, through a critical process of evaluation to find the truth. We feel the pulse of the people in HK and China. Our role is to calm the storm in a crisis. There will be less than 10% of Westerners who will agree with me that the Western Media caused so much fear among the HK citizens.

The response of the West to the Handover was like awakening from a deep slumber. But, Asian churches stand with us together. They are not polluted by Western political interference. In the economic arena Western prospectors have not done anything illegal, but rather they have taken immoral actions on the stock markets. These aggressive actions of course are done by individuals. Hong Kong is a small country and these actions damage the people here. I am critical of these individuals not the nation.

The property value in HK dropped after the Beijing Massacre, but now the same apartment costs 500% more or five times as much as at that time. Even with signs of stability some people in HK are still being prophetic.

Rev. Dr. Tso, Gen. Secr. of the HKCC. The Chinese Calligraphy, a gift from the CCC says, "Moving Forward in Cooperation"

The HKCC is the most progressive organization, but is considered by some small groups, the "front-line" groups as backwards.

I cannot defend the China of the past. I criticize the implementation of the China Christian policy from the bottom of my heart. This way I do not create fear and cause suffering for the HK people. The director of the China Christian Council has said they will try their best to implement their policy. The HKCC looks for the right time, the right movement, the right people and saying the right thing at the right time- it is the wisest thing to do. A prophet should know the difference. We don't mind acting against the current, though it is at times very difficult.

More and more churches are following this line now. More and more individuals are turning with us into the current.

Regarding the Issue of Separation of Church and State, each country has a different system.

The US separates church and state, but Germany does not for example. Their ministers are like government workers, paid through the church tax.

In Hong Kong we can teach about the Bible, hold weekly religious meetings, pray, sing, and preach in the schools. We do not have separation of church and state. And the schools are funded by the government. The churches run the hospitals, social service centers, and schools. Even though we do not separate church and state, for the past 150 years there has been no interference by the government in our policies and teaching of the Gospel.

The HKCC is the spokesman for mainline churches and within our council membership we provide services to 1/3rd of the population through schools, social services and hospitals for at least two million people. This is good, quality service, not just to Christians, but for everyone!

There is such a thing as "colonial mentality" in Hong Kong. We people of Hong Kong have gradually slipped into this mentality during these 150 years, psychologically, socially and maybe racially as well. Whether the person is educated or not, rich or poor and so on. HK citizens have always been British subjects, not citizens of the UK. Yes, we can travel, but we can be rejected when we reach the UK. We should receive notification of permission to enter or not enter before going to Britain, not when we have traveled to Britain's doorstep. Even though we held British passports this discrimination happened to us. No voices of anger were ever raised. This British mentality- we are as such.

I have seen at a McDonald's in HK that when foreigners come in the order-taker will tell them to come to the front of the line. Foreigners are served before the elderly. Why is this? This colonial mentality has become part of our consciousness. I am sympathetic and sometimes can feel their pain. This is HK.

I hope this is a turning point in HK. I can no longer condone this colonial mentality. I must wake up the people! This is a new page in Hong Kong's history. We are moving ahead. I try to be free. No-one inhibits us, but we inhibit ourselves with our ego. Because we are all living under the shadow of our past, if we cannot free ourselves from it, we are doomed to repeat it. When I go to China I remind them. You are free to change! You do not need to follow the same path. You have an option.

Now in HK too, we have the option to stand and create our own future.

The Hong Kong Christian Council is an ecumenical body with representation from 21 denominations and/or Christian organizations, 200,000 individuals, 50 nationalities and both local and international members. Some members include: The Church of Christ in China, the Salvation Army, ELC-Hong Kong, Methodist Church- Hong Kong, Anglican Church, Tsung Tsin Mission, HK Japanese Christian Fellowship, Chinese YMCA of HK, Hong Kong Bible Society, Christian Action, the HK Lutheran Theological Seminary and Finnish Missionary Society. The executive committee contains 27 members plus three honorary legal consultants. Hundreds of other people make up the various program and ad hoc committees.

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To see the HKCC's1997 Handover Declaration

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