The Public Role of Religion in Post-colonial Hong Kong : An Historical Overview of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Christianity

The transition of the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong to the government of the People's Republic of China was a long and arduous process.

Although the political and social aspects have been studied at length, this is the first time a variety of religious communinites have been considered and studied in depth regarding the changes beginning in 1984 and continuing to the 1997 transfer and beyond.

The author has interviewed the prominent religious leaders of Hong Kong, observing and analyzing the responses of Christians, Taoists, Buddhists, and Confucians as to how they were preparing for ministry amid all the new socio-political trends. « I commend the author for his meticulous attention to detail.

His book is a model for how Christian leaders and academicians are to engage in describing accurately the socioexistential contexts in Hong Kong.

Kwong Chunwah's disciplined mind is imbued with the classics of his Chinese beritage.

His conciliatory spirit respects people of all faiths, devoid of suspicion and prejudice. (John N. Jonsson, Professor of World Religions, Baylor University, Texas) « Kwong Chunwah is in an unusually good position to analyze the transition of Hong Kong from British colonial rule to life under the People's Republic of China.

As a native of Hong Kong and of its schools and trained for his doctorate in the United States, he has an inside understanding of the cultural-religious life of Hong Kong.

He traces well new and deepened dimensions of pluralism in the dynamic society of Hong Kong. (Jerry Moye, Professor of Old Testament and Spirituality, Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary)