Eighty Years Young

Celebrating Hans' 80th birthday with other members of The Refugee Concern Network

A true pioneer for Hong Kong's justice work, Rev. Hans Lutz has been a dear friend of Christian Action since the very beginning.

When the number of refugees in Hong Kong began to expand in the early 2000s, Hans, who was then Executive Secretary for Justice and Social Concern of the Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC), supported Christian Action's effort to care for the displaced.  In fact, it was Hans' endorsement that led the HKCC to back the opening of our Centre for Refugees in 2003.

Hans is one of my oldest and most respected friends, and I mean 'oldest' in the literal sense of the word! His youthfulness could have fooled me, but Hans recently celebrated his 80th birthday! We halted proceedings at our quarterly Refugee Concern Network meeting to celebrate his life which has impacted so many.

Hans is a true legend. I thank God for his life, and I'm humbled to work alongside him as we continue to advocate for refugees in our city. His work far exceeds that with refugees; Hans has championed important human rights causes for decades. He retired from the Hong Kong Christian Council in 2003, but he still serves at The Basel Evangelical Missionary Society Hong Kong. Hans was also the pioneer of Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee as well as Amnesty International in Hong Kong.

His involvement is a lesson to all of us.  Hans hasn't let age slow him down; he seems to be more active than I am!