Celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (HKSKH), the Anglican Church in Hong Kong, have got underway with a gathering of 8,000 people at AsiaWorld-Expo. The large gathering of teachers, social-workers, priests and parishioners was a celebration of the evangelism, education, social service ministries of the Church.

The day began with Morning Prayer before the screening of a video introducing the history and structure of the Province and its specialist ministries. The

The Bishop of Western Kowloon, Andrew Chan, spoke about Christian witness; and the Bishop of Eastern Kowloon, Timothy Kwok, explored the challenges faced by educators and social workers today.

The keynote address was given by Roman Catholic Priest Father Thomas Kwan, a lecturer on moral theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary College. He spoke about the services of HKSKH churches, schools and social service ministries; and how they interact with one another.

The Primate of Hong Kong, Archbishop Paul Kwong concluded the day’s events with a blessing.

While the Province is 20 years old, the history of the Anglican Church in Hong Kong and Macau dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. The first colonial chaplain was appointed in 1843. The Diocese of Victoria was established in 1849 as the Church Missionary Society began work among the local Chinese populace, in Hong Kong and South China.

The diocese was enlarged as the Diocese of Kong Yuet (South China), part of the Chung Hua Sheng Kung Hui – the Holy Catholic Church of China – the first national church organisation in China.

In 1951 Diocese of Hong Kong and Macao became a detached diocese, which did not belong to any Province until 1998 when the Province of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui was established.