Changing Church and State Relations in Hong Kong, 1950-2000

1. Introduction

CHAPTER O N E Introduction The impact of Church-State relations on the history of Europe and the United States has been enormous and remains an important issue of debate today. For centuries, Christianity ha s influence d th e cultural an d political developmen t of Europe. As a result, it is closely associated with the West. In general terms, Christianity, an d th e churche s i n particular, ha s played a double rol e i n the Western politica l system . At times , the churche s hav e throw n thei r suppor t behind a government, and thereby strengthened its political legitimacy. On other occasions, the churches have condemned and criticized a government in order to challenge it s rule o r promote politica l reform . Church-Stat e relation s ar e complex, with many factors influencin g how the two interrelate. The relationship between Church and State has never been static. Relations have been affecte d b y constan t change s i n the wider socia l environmen t o f people and politics. Secondly, the Christian church is not a unified organization, but i s instea d mad e u p o f different denomination s an d group s — a divided clan. The three major Christian groups that make up the clan — Catholicism, Protestantism an d Orthodox y — hav e thei r ow n politica l ideologies . Furthermore, within the Protestant group there are many different sub-groups , each with its own political viewpoint an d set of beliefs. Thirdly, as a whole, the Christia n churche s hav e a common se t o f faith-prescribe d value s an d morals, which should, in theory, guide the churches in their relationship with 2 Changing Church and State Relations in Hong Kong, 1950-2000 the State. However, many factors, especially self-interest and desire for power in th e politica l environment , hav e alway s affecte d ho w th e churche s hav e related to the State and at times Christian values and morals have come second. Hence, th e stud y o f Church-Stat e relation s shoul d g o beyon d th e officia l documents o f a governmen t an d beautifu l religiou s discourse . I t shoul d investigate whether power and interest have played a part in that relationship. Hong Kong has its own unique socio-political culture and system which is not identical to that found in the West. Catholic and Protestant missionaries were invited by the Hong Kong government to serve the army and local people soon after th e British occupied the colony in 1841 . Before Worl d War II, the churches assisted the Hong Kong British colonial administration b y offerin g educational, socia l an d medical service s to the poor and destitute. In return, the government granted land and financial subsidie s to the Christian churches for thei r socia l servic e work , thu s layin g th e foundation s o f a 'contractua l relationship' between the government and Christian churches. This unique form of Church-Stat e relation s flourishe d afte r Worl d Wa r I I whe n th e Britis h government feared the infiltration o f Communism into Hong Kong. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the Christian churches were encouraged by the government to provide educational, socia l and medical service s to the wider community . During th e 1980s , however, Church-Stat e relation s began t o change a s both the Catholic and Protestant churches began to play a more prominent role in the socio-political arena. In the lead-up to the handover of Hong Kong to China (July 1997) , the churches became increasingly involved in politics and social action. They demanded assurances from Britai n and the Chinese government that religiou s freedo m an d politica l refor m woul d b e protecte d afte r th e handover. These changes led to the development of an 'untraditional' form of Church-State relations. As the handover neared and the Chinese governmen t entered Hon g Kong' s politica l arena , th e bilateral relationshi p betwee n th e colonial governmen t an d Christia n churche s expande d int o a triangula r relationship now including China. Close scrutiny of the changing Church-State relations in the Special Administrative Region...