Gutzlaff Street: The historical footprint and influence of German missionaries in Hong Kong

Date:	7-5-2019 (Tue)
Time:	12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Venue:	EdUHK Tai Po Campus     D3-LP-07
Speaker:	Ms LEUNG, Chui Wa Iris (Research fellow, Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong)
Abstract：	Karl Gützlaff, with Gutzlaff Street in Central named after him, was not just the second Chinese Secretary of the British colonial government in Hong Kong, he was also the first German missionary to China. The speaker unwound the relationship between The Chinese Union, established by Rev Gutzlaff, and the German Missionaries. Since 1844, Chinese Union had promoted sending of missionaries of the European continent to China. Rev Gutzlaff brought four founding pastors of Basel Mission (now known as Tsung Tsin Mission) and the Rhenish Mission. The German Missionaries also became the backbone of the Christian Churches in Guangdong Province. German missionaries not only loved Chinese culture, but also shared Western culture. A lot of historical traces were contributed by them in more than a hundred years starting from the mid-nineteenth century in China. The speaker also mentioned the work of the missionaries in educational, medical and social service ministries in Guangdong and Hong Kong, especially in Hakka girls, abandoned babies and blind children.