I Was Looking Forward To This Day for 9 Years!

Nine years ago Christian Action was at risk of being shut down. Our Headquarters and base of operations for almost 30 years, The New Horizons Building at Kai Tak, was suddenly slated for demolition and we were powerless to stop this action.

Everything that we had laboured for and spent decades developing, from world-class training courses and facilities, including a well-trained staff, to After-School Programmes - was in jeopardy. Many of you partnered with us in faithful and fervent prayer, but the outcome looked very bleak.

Last Tuesday, on 23rd May, after years of postponements and cancelations due to COVID and other delays, we finally managed to celebrate God’s miraculous answer to your prayers - in our replacement building! The building that we now occupy, is courtesy of the HK Government and it received a splendid refurbishment that was underwritten by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust!

The ceremony was attended by a number of distinguished guests, including - Mr. Leung Wang Ching, Clarence, BBS, JP, Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs; Mr. Bryan Wong, Head of Charities (Ageing and Elderly Care) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr. Byron Ng Kwok Keung, BBS, Executive Director of Employees Retraining Board; Mr. Steve Wong Chi Wah, JP, District Officer of Wong Tai Sin; Ms. Ching Oi Ho, Sandy, Assistant District Social Welfare Officer (Wong Tai Sin / Sai Kung) of Social Welfare Department; Mrs. Lai-Chan Wai Fan, Clara, Chief Manager of Wong Tai Sin, Tsing Yi & Tsuen Wan Regions of Housing Department and our Chairman, Mr. Julian Walsh; and also of course our board members, supporters, former staff and current colleagues, Community and corporate partners, service users and church leaders.

When I took over the reins at Christian Action thirty-one years ago, we were registered as Hong Kong Christian Aid to Refugees. We served genuine refugees and then added exploited domestic helpers shortly after. My ‘office’ was in a dilapidated and illegal, corrugated iron-shack on the roof of the New Horizons Building. In the middle of summer our ‘office’ was baking hot, and when it rained my office chair would fill with water! Today our building is a massive improvement that helps us manage our 26 services and training centres with ease. More importantly, it will enable us to serve well over 6,500 people in the surrounding communities in the next 12 months alone!

From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of the 6,500 plus annual beneficiaries, I would like to thank all our stakeholders for being constant pillars, and sharing your love and support with Christian Action.

Siew Mei

PS Click here to read my April 2020 blog post “Faith as small as a Mustard Seed” to view the story and more photos of this building.