The Most Reverend Paul Kwong

Doctor of Laws honoris causa

Citation

Different life pursuits determine attitudes toward life and conception of values. No matter what occupation one is in and regardless of social status, one can live a colourful and meaningful life as long as one has a sense of responsibility, and works with dedication and integrity. Archbishop Paul has chosen to commit himself to the promotion of religious cause and to serving God, seeking his ultimate destiny in a simple and peaceful life.

Archbishop Paul appears to have been born with a strong sense of and reverence for religion. He is a fourth-generation member of the Anglican family, into which he was born. He grew up in a religious home and, since he was a teenager, has sought the truth and spiritual power in the church. He once said that ever since he was at secondary school, he had felt the calling of God and decided to become a clergyman.

With a lofty vision for religion and a sincere desire to serve the public, Archbishop Paul was sent by Bishop Gilbert Baker to study at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, an Episcopal Seminary in the United States in 1979, and graduated with a master’s degree in theology in 1982. In the same year, he was made deacon. A year later, he was ordained priest. And for four years he served as curate at Anglican Holy Trinity Church, after which he served as a Vicar for 10 years at St. Matthias' Church. Archbishop Paul attaches great importance to the sacred ministry of priest, for it gives him chance to serve God and nurture the congregation. As a priest, he founded new churches in two towns, namely St Philip’s Church in Tin Shui Wai and the Church of the Ascension in Tung Chung. In addition, Archbishop Paul has served in other posts, including Chairman of the Diocesan Youth Committee of the Diocese of Hong Kong and Macau, assistant to the Archbishop, Provincial Secretary General, lecturer and Chaplain to the Ming Hua Theological College, supervisor of church sponsored schools, and Chairman and member of other social organizations.

Archbishop Paul has won considerable recognition and acclaim from church members for his outstanding contributions to the Hong Kong Anglican Church and the Anglican Communion worldwide. On 30 December 2005, he was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong Island, and then in February 2007 as the second Archbishop of Hong Kong Anglican Church, with overwhelming popular support. Since assuming the post of Archbishop, he has paid a lot of attention to exchanges between churches and other regional religious bodies. At the invitation of Ye Xiaowen, the Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs and within a short span of one week in May, he visited various religious figures in China, including Bishop Ding Guangxun in Nanjing, Cao Bin, the Deputy Director of the Shanghai Ethnic and Religious Affairs Administration, Cao Shengjie, the President of the China Christian Council, and Presbyter Ji Jianhong, the Chairman of the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China. He also met with the Deputy Director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Chen Zuoer, and Executive Vice Minister of the Central United Front Work Department, Zhu Weiqun. In addition, he visited leaders of the US Episcopal Church, Church of Ireland, Church of England and the Southeast Asian Anglican Churches in order to foster co-operation with them. These friendly visits have strengthened the ties between Hong Kong Anglican and churches in Chinese Mainland and elsewhere, and contributed to the development of local religious cause.

While enhancing ties between Hong Kong Anglican and churches in other areas, Archbishop Paul has mounted a relentless effort to build up Hong Kong province, showing remarkable foresight and wisdom that are appreciated by many. In his view, two prerequisites are essential to the favourable development of Hong Kong Anglican, namely expanding the church’s influence through personnel training, and consolidating the work done by its parishes and missions. Archbishop Paul’s profound insight and will continue to ensure the favourable development of Hong Kong Anglican.

Mr Chancellor, with his broad mind and generous heart as well as noble life pursuits, Archbishop Paul most fully embodies superior virtue and high moral principles, and the spirit of pursuit of good faith. He is also a wise man with extraordinary leadership qualities and far-reaching astuteness. Archbishop Paul commands respect for his formidable theological knowledge, intense passion for religious work and most notable contributions to Hong Kong Anglican. I hereby present to you Archbishop Paul for the award of the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.