About the Website

Christian social participation in Hong Kong is obvious in recent years. The role of Christianity in this area demands serious attention. Its root can be traced back to the colonial period. In previous studies, Christianity was usually considered as a 'tool' of the colonial government. This project suggests that the interactions between religion, politics, and society are more complicated than we supposed. Since the colonial government implemented its localization policy and subsidized social services programs to cope with discontents among Hong Kong Chinese after the 1967 riot, Hong Kong Chinese Christians have become increasingly active in their participation of social and political issues. In order to have a better understanding of the decolonization process of Hong Kong and an understanding of what a good church–state relation might be, it is important for us to study the interrelations and conflicts between Christians' religious, ethnic, and socio-political identities.

This project focuses on studying the dynamics and interactions of religious discourses, identity construction, and social participation of Hong Kong Chinese Protestant Christians from 1970 to 1997. More specifically, it explores the reciprocal relation of religious belief and social identity construction of believers, and the religious-socio-political implications of this relation in a colonial context.

Long-term impact:

1. To fill an important void in scholarship on the decolonization/transitioning process of Hong Kong—Though there are researches on the social and political participation of Hong Kong Christians in the colonial period, only very few give attention to the subjective historical experience of the participants and the religious discourses. This research will focus on the religious discourses, and the strategies of transforming religious ideas into teachings with social and political relevance in a decolonizing period. It aims to facilitate the state and general public to understand the process of religious groups in embedding their social thought within their religious discourses, and how these religious discourses generate public influence. Also, it will focus on oral historical accounts, which supply important personal experiences and perspectives, for future studies on this area.
2. To identify and uncover the features and strategies of transforming religious concepts and experiences into social relevant discourses. It enables us to recognize the advantages and drawbacks of different features and strategies. It facilitates the religious organizations to be able to effectively communicate their opinions and demands with the general public.
3. Research suggests that religious faith plays an important role in building up civil society. A study on the history of social participation of Hong Kong Christian from 1970s to 1990s can facilitate us to identify the important religious elements that are beneficial to developing civil society.
4. This research promotes an understanding for reciprocal adaptations between religion and society in a socio-political transitional period. It enhances our ability to understand the complex identity construction of Hong Kong people, the role of religion in shaping this identity, and the potential tensions and possible resolutions between local, ethnic, national, and religious identities. It in turn could benefit the government and Christian social organizations to have better deliberation in the decision making process.
5. Because the reemergence of religious movements in the Chinese world and their impact on its domestic and international politics, this research, on the one hand, helps the world understand the changing China through Hong Kong on this important topic, and on the other, helps Hong Kong people understand their complex socio-political situation better.