Almost four years ago Maryanne and I had the opportunity to visit Hong Kong and get more of an insider\u2019s view than typical tourists. I had an opportunity to candidate for an international church, and the elders packed our itinerary. For several days we looked at city sites, schools for our daughters, apartment complexes, and we briefly visited Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, and New Territories.\u00a0\u00a0 We went to Michelin star restaurants on the harbor as well as mom and pop dives. Somewhat reflective of the economic diversity of that church\u2019s elders, one member, a HK resident whose family owned several factories throughout China, was likely a billionaire. Another member was a gracious missionary from Australia who lived in the most meager of flats. While we chose not to accept the call to Hong Kong for personal reasons, the city left some lasting impressions.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d liken Hong Kong to a Pacific Northwest City like Seattle or Vancouver. It wraps around a harbor, so the sea plays a big part in its identity and history. But it\u2019s not a \u201cconcrete jungle\u201d like New York City; it has a backdrop of lush forested hills that can be seen as you look towards the mainland. Like the Pacific Northwest, HK is very trendy, progressive, and attractive to young upwardly mobile professionals. As indicated in our reading \u201cHong Kong Culture: Word and Image,\u201d [i]<\/a> cultural activities such as cinema and the performing arts are thriving. It has everything you\u2019d expect in a global city, especially commerce.\u00a0\u00a0 Whether imports or exports, HK is one of the busiest ports in Asia. And with the movement of the world\u2019s finances through its banking institutions, Hong Kong is also a place of mind-boggling wealth.<\/p>\n As an outsider I\u2019m keenly aware that I don\u2019t understand Chinese culture or politics and can only offer an outsider\u2019s glance. Eighteen years since HK\u2019s return to Chinese sovereignty, it still presents itself as a city with an identity crisis. Is it a \u201cGateway to China\u201d or is it \u201cAsia\u2019s World City\u201d? [ii]<\/a> Is it pro-democracy or pro-Beijing? Will its citizens eventually gain the freedom to vote on their chief executive? And how meaningful is that vote if all the candidates are vetted by a pro-Beijing committee? Is it democracy? Personally, both sides impress me: Beijing allows HK freedoms the mainland (as a Special Administrative Region) doesn\u2019t enjoy including greater freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to protest. The courage of the recent protestors in the \u201cumbrella revolution\u201d was inspiring but did not lead to the freedom they sought. Hong Kong is truly a great city that seems to always be striving for clarity.<\/p>\n That brings me back to Hong Kong\u2019s competing city slogans: \u201ca gateway to China\u201d or \u201cAsia\u2019s world City\u201d. Does Beijing want to be more like Hong Kong or does it want Hong Kong to be me more like Beijing? Does Beijing perceive HK as inviting a warmer initial impression of China to the western world? And if so, wouldn\u2019t that be considered a \u201cbait and switch\u201d from a western perspective or perhaps demeaning from a pro-Beijing perspective? I\u2019d personally lean towards \u201cAsia\u2019s World City,\u201d as it honors the great accomplishments of Hong Kong and acknowledges that it stands on its own instead of being compared to other mainland cities.<\/p>\n A final reflection: Hong Kong has a very permissive attitude toward Christianity. Christianity is deeply established there; many school buildings host a church on weekends. The educational system is deeply enmeshed with Christian schools: primary, secondary, and post-secondary. Christian institutions provide several hospitals and social services as well. Frankly, HK\u2019s attitude and posture toward Christian religion seems much more European than Chinese, an unsurprising remnant of its colonial past. HK doesn\u2019t have the same restrictions or oversight on religion, as does the mainland. This too can advance HK as \u201cAsia\u2019s World City\u201d.<\/p>\n On a more personal note, it might sound like I regret not accepting the call to pastor one of Hong Kong\u2019s diverse and vibrant churches. And while I would have loved to live in that city, it\u2019s the mainland with its restrictions, pressures, and limited freedoms that offer an even greater environment for the expediential and apostolic growth of Christ\u2019s kingdom. But that\u2019s probably an assertion that will have wait for my dissertation.<\/p>\n