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

Book excerpt: The transition of the Churches from the traditional colonial setting of Hong Kong in the aftermath of World War II to the mature Christian community of post-industrial, post-colonial Hong Kong is analysed with considerable skill by Beatrice Leung Kit-fun and Shun-hing Chan... The two authors add significantly to our understanding of the dilemmas which confronted not only the Churches in adjusting to the transition from British rule but the wider community as well. The book gave detailed account of Hong Kong's church-state relationship in metamorphosis. It should be an important text for students in both political science and China studies, and especially in the history of Hong Kong. A timely effort to fill a major gap in the study of Hong Kong society – church-state relations. Students of Hong Kong research will find it most informative and useful. But its relevance goes beyond Hong Kong – this is a major reference for those who are interested in the areas of sociology of religion, civil society, political science and East Asian studies. The book is the first piece of substantial research to analyze Church-State relations in Hong Kong during the critical period of the handover from British to Chinese governance. It is certainly an original contribution, in such scale, to raise the attention on an under-studied, controversial and important area which may critically affect the changing socio-political dynamics in Hong Kong. This manuscript is an informative, insightful, and timely study of Church-State relations in Hong Kong over the past 50 years.