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Religion in Hong Kong is part and parcel of the Culture Of Hong Kong . Religious Freedom is one of the fundamental rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents. It is protected by the Basic Law and the relevant legislation. There are a large variety of religious groups in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), including Buddhism , Taoism , Confucianism , Christianity , Islam , Hinduism , Sikhism and Judaism . All of these groups have a considerable number of adherents. Apart from offering religious instructions, many major religious bodies have established schools and provided Social Welfare facilities. BUDDHISM AND TAOISM :''Main articles: Buddhism In Hong Kong and Taoism In Hong Kong , on Lantau Island , Hong Kong]] Buddhism and Taoism are traditional Chinese Religion s. These two religions have a considerable number of adherents in Hong Kong and there are more than 600 Temple s in the HKSAR. The history of some of these temples can be traced back to more than 700 years ago, while some others have been built in recent years. Notable temples include the Wong Tai Sin Temple located in the Wong Tai Sin District in Kowloon . This popular temple is dedicated to the Taoist deity, Wong Tai Sin . Besides, the Chi Nin Nunnery in Diamond Hill is a group of temple structures in Tang Dynasty 's architectural style. It is open to the public following the completion of its redevelopment in 2000. The Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island is famous for the outdoor bronze statue, Tian Tan Buddha , which attracts a large number of visitors during the weekends and holidays. Other well-known temples include the Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin in The New Territories , and Man Mo Temple in Hollywood Road on the Hong Kong Island . Religious studies are conducted in monasteries, nunneries and hermitages. Virtually all monasteries are open to the public, as are the temples, which are especially crowded at festivals and on the first and 15th days of Lunar Month s. Since Hong Kong has always depended on the sea – originally for fishing and then for trade – the most popular deities are those connected with the sea and the weather. Tin Hau , the ‘Queen of Heaven’ and protector of seafarers, is said to be worshipped by 250 000 people. There are at least 24 Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong, the first and most famous being the one at Fat Tong Mun in Joss House Bay . .]] Due to Land Reclamation , many of the Tin Hau Temple s which were originally near the sea are now some distance inland. Other leading deities include Kwun Yum , the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy; Kwan Tai , God of War and the source of righteousness; Pak Tai , Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven and local patron of the island of Cheung Chau ; and Hung Shing , God of the South Seas and a weather Prophet . Taoist and Buddhist organisations help to meet welfare, educational and medical needs in Hong Kong, either directly or by contributing to charitable organisations. Many temples have donation boxes to collect money for charities, schools or hospitals. CONFUCIANISM See Also: Confucianism in Hong Kong Confucianism is a belief in the teachings of Confucius who lived in ancient China from 551 to 479 B.C. His teachings were based on moral code for human relations with emphasis on the importance of tradition and rites. He was one of the most eminent Thinker s of the time, a great sage and educator whose philosophy has deeply influenced the political, economic and social systems of China. He has also been hailed as an exemplary mentor for all ages. The major festival of Confucianism is the Confucius' Birthday that falls on the 27th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. Confucians in Hong Kong have been deeply involved in education. They run a number of local schools with an objective of promoting the teachings of Confucius. CHRISTIANITY The Roman Catholic community Main article: Catholic Diocese Of Hong Kong The Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong was established as a Mission Prefecture in 1841 and as an Apostolic Vicariate in 1874 . It became a Diocese in 1946. About 239 400 people are Catholic s. They are served by 309 Priest s, 60 Brother s and 519 Sister s. There are 52 Parish es, comprising 40 Church es, 30 Chapel s and 28 Hall s for religious service. Services are conducted in Cantonese , with three-fifths of the parishes providing services in English and in Tagalog in some cases. The diocese has established its own administrative structure while maintaining close links with the Pope and other Catholic communities around the world. It has the same Creed , Scripture , Liturgy and organisation as the other culture communities world wide. The assistant secretary-general of the Federation Of Asian Bishops’ Conference has his office in Hong Kong. Along with its apostolic work, one of the prime concerns of the diocese has been for the well-being of all the people of Hong Kong. In education, there are 320 Catholic schools and kindergartens which have about 286 000 pupils. There is the Catholic Board Of Education to assist in this area. The medical and social services include six hospitals, 15 clinics, 13 social centres, 15 hostels, 12 homes for the aged, 15 rehabilitation service centres and many self-help clubs and associations. Caritas is the official social welfare arm of the Roman Catholic Church in Hong Kong. These services are open to all people. Indeed, 95 per cent of those who have benefited from the wide range of services provided by the diocese are not Catholics. To reach people through the media, the diocese publishes two weekly newspapers, '' Kung Kao Po '' and '' The Sunday Examiner ''. In addition, the Diocesan Audio-Visual Centre produces tapes and films for use in schools and parishes and, overall, the Hong Kong Catholic Social Communications Office acts as an information and public relations channel for the diocese. The Protestant community See Also: Protestantism in Hong Kong .]] The presence of the Protestant community dates back to 1841. About 300 000 Protestant Christians live in Hong Kong. The at The Chinese University Of Hong Kong , Hong Kong Baptist University and Lingnan University . They run 144 secondary schools, 192 primary schools, 273 kindergartens and 116 nurseries. In addition, they operate 16 theological seminaries and Bible institutes,16 Christian publishing houses and 57 Christian bookshops. They run seven hospitals with 3 749 beds, 18 clinics and 59 social service organisations that provide a wide range of social services including 227 community and youth centres, 74 day care centres, 17 children’s homes, 35 homes for the elderly, 106 elderly centres, two schools for the blind and deaf, 47 training centres for the mentally handicapped and 15 camp sites. Five international hotel-type guest houses are managed by the YMCA and YWCA . The church supports emergency relief and development projects in Third World countries. Two weekly newspapers are published, '' The Christian Weekly '' and '' The Christian Times ''. Two ecumenical bodies facilitate co-operative work among the Protestant churches in Hong Kong. The older one, dating from 1915, is the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union . The second co-operative body is the Hong Kong Christian Council , formed in 1954. Major mainline denominations and ecumenical services constitute the membership core of the council, which is committed to building closer relationships among all churches in Hong Kong as well as with churches overseas, and to stimulating local Christians to play an active part in the development of Hong Kong society. THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY See Also: Islam in Hong Kong Hong Kong has about 20 000 Muslims. The majority are Chinese, with the rest mainly from Pakistan , India , Malaysia , Indonesia , the Middle East ern and Africa n countries. Four principal Masjid s are used daily for prayers. The oldest is the Shelley Street Masjid on Hong Kong Island, which was built in the 1840s and rebuilt in 1915 . The Kowloon Masjid And Islamic Centre in Nathan Road , opened in 1984 , can accommodate about 3 500 worshippers. The Masjid and Islamic Centre at Oi Kwan Road in Wan Chai was opened in September 1981 and can accommodate a congregation of more than 700 worshippers. The Cape Collinson Muslim Cemetery also has a masjid. The Incorporated Trustees Of The Islamic Community Fund Of Hong Kong co-ordinates religious affairs and manages masajid and Muslim cemeteries in Hong Kong. The constituent bodies of the Trustees are the Islamic Union Of Hong Kong , the Pakistan Association , the Indian Muslim Association and the Dawoodi Bohra Association . Charitable work among the Muslim community, including financial aid to the needy, medical care, educational assistance, the provision of an Islamic kindergarten and assistance for the aged, is conducted through various Muslim organisations in Hong Kong. THE HINDU COMMUNITY See Also: Hinduism in Hong Kong The religious and social activities of Hong Kong’s 15 000-strong Hindu community are centred on the Hindu Temple in Happy Valley . The Hindu Association Of Hong Kong is responsible for the upkeep of the temple, which is also used for Meditation periods, spiritual lectures, Yoga classes and other community activities as well as the observance of major Hindu festivals such as Diwali , Dussehra , etc. Naming, engagement and marriage ceremonies are performed at the temple according to Hindu rites. Devotional music sessions and religious discourses are held every Sunday morning and Monday evening. The Sunday sessions are followed by a free community meal. The Hindu Temple is an approved place of worship for the performance of marriages under the Marriage Ordinance. Other important services rendered by the temple include administration of last rites, arrangements for cremation and related ceremonies and the general upkeep of the Hindu Crematorium at Cape Collinson . THE SIKH COMMUNITY See Also: Sikhism in Hong Kong The Sikhs are perhaps one of Hong Kong’s most colourful minorities. A unique feature of the Sikh Temple in Wan Chai is that it provides free meals and short-term accommodation to overseas visitors of any faith. The main holy days and festivals observed are the birthdays of Guru Nanak (founder of the faith), Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th Guru ) and Baisakhi (birthday of all Sikh s). The Sikhs originally came to Hong Kong from the Punjab, in North India, as part of the British Armed Forces in the 19th century. Because of their generally strong physique, they also formed a large segment of the Hong Kong Police Force before World War II. Today, the community numbers about 8 000 and its members are engaged in a variety of occupations. The centre of their religious and cultural activities is the Sikh Temple at 371 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY See Also: Judaism in Hong Kong With a history dating back to the 1840s, Hong Kong’s Jewish community, comprising families from various parts of the world, worships at three main congregations. Daily services are held at the Ohel Leah Synagogue ( Orthodox ), Sabbath and festival services at the United Jewish Congregation Of Hong Kong ( Reform ). Both are located in the same residential complex in Robinson Road , Hong Kong Island. Daily services are also held at the Chabad Lubavitch Shul based in the Mandarin Oriental , Hong Kong, Central. The Ohel Leah Synagogue was built in 1901 on land given by Sir Jacob Sassoon and his family and includes a Mikvah (ritual bath). There is also a Jewish Cemetery at Happy Valley, a historical site in Hong Kong. The site adjoining the Ohel Leah Synagogue, now containing a residential complex, also houses the Jewish Community Centre which serves all three congregations. The centre offers its 650 member families and visiting Jewish guests supervised Kosher dining and banquet, cultural and recreational facilities as well as a specialist library covering all aspects of Judaica . The centre functions as the focal point of social and cultural life for a growing Jewish community. TRADITIONAL AND RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS :''Related topics: Traditional Chinese Holidays , Public Holidays In Hong Kong There are five major festivals in the Chinese Calendar , with the Lunar New Year being the most important. Gifts and visits are exchanged among friends and relatives and children receive '' Lai See '', or ‘lucky money’. During the Ching Ming Festival in spring, ancestral graves are visited. In early summer (fifth day of the fifth lunar month), the Tuen Ng Festival is celebrated with dragon boat races and by eating cooked Glutinous Rice wrapped in Lotus leaves. The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Gifts of Mooncake s, wine and fruit are exchanged and adults and children go into parks and the countryside at night with colourful Lantern s. Chung Yeung is on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, when many visit their ancestors’ graves or hike up mountains in remembrance of an ancient Chinese family’s escape from plague and death by fleeing to a mountain top. Apart from the above traditional festivals, quite a number of important religious festivals, including Good Friday , Easter , Buddha's Birthday and Christmas , have been listed as Public Holidays . Adherents hold special celebration or memorial ceremonies on these occasions. SEE ALSO
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