Pastors, brothers and sisters, I am delighted about tonight's meeting organized by the Hong Kong Campus Crusade for Christ and Jireh Fund. It seems that I have returned to the house of God in your midst. Just now I heard everyone singing praises to God, and it reminded me about the completion of the sanctuary by King Solomon and the phenomenal scene when the Israelites worshiped God. As we completed three million-hour prayers, I am delighted that we can gather to commemorate and thank God for the blessings He bestowed upon Hong Kong in the past few years. I know that many brothers and sisters have been praying for me, for my colleagues in the government and for our Chief Executive. It is the result of everyone's prayer that Hong Kong is able to stand firm today and that every civil servant can continue to serve Hong Kong.

Rev. Daniel Ng invited me to think about what to share for the meeting. I thought about the work I go to everyday. When faced with the ever-changing political environment, I am just an individual like everyone else. My eyes and heart can neither search all things, nor I know about the future political development of Hong Kong. But I believe that our God is sovereign over history. He can surely make His way around the hillside and see what lies around the corner. What will become the direction for Hong Kong? Before I came to this meeting two biblical passages came to my mind. The first passage is from the book of Exodus that talked about how God commissioned Moses to go to Egypt. After the ten plagues sent by God, He led the Israelites out of Egypt where they went into the desert and crossed the Red Sea. As they came to the side of the Red Sea, the Israelites were in panic and did not know what to do with the Egyptian soldiers who were pursuing from behind. Perhaps at times this also reflects the state of the people of Hong Kong, who are often in constant anxiety and worries. We want to plan ahead for the future. I do not know how the political environment of Hong Kong will develop, and I do not know what the future will hold for Hong Kong's politics. However, I believe that the One whom we put our faith in is the God who is sovereign over history, and He will prepare a future for Hong Kong.

The second passage is recorded in the New Testament gospel. A group of Israelites tempted the Lord Jesus in order to test His political loyalty. They asked Him if they should pay taxes to Caesar. Filled with wisdom, our Lord gave a perfectly correct and appropriate response: "give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." In every generation and at every place, those in authority can only be established by the approval and blessings of God. Everyday I have this hope that God will bless our country and Hong Kong. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." (Pr. 21:1) Our prayer is that God will bestow wisdom and love upon the leaders of our country, as well as to those who are in charge of the public affairs in Hong Kong. We also pray that God will bestow wisdom and a listening heart so that we can attentively listen to the voices of the people of Hong Kong, and to understand the pulse of the society. It is through this that can lead us to a wonderful future of Hong Kong.

Over the past 20 years, we witnessed different kinds of days and experienced a time that was filled with anxiety. God still blesses Hong Kong such that it still stands firm today. I remember back in the seventies when I was still in university. My classmates from the university fellowship launched movements called "The Lord Loves China" and "The Lord Remembers China". At that time I thought how it was extremely difficult for the gospel to enter mainland China; however, God had mercy on our country. Through various government and non-government channels, the gospel continued to spread to various places. God allowed our country to open up in order to not only raise the living standard of its citizens but to provide an opportunity for every citizen to receive salvation. I believe that our God whom everyone's faith is rested upon is the God who blesses Hong Kong and China. He is also the God who blesses every people and every tribe. May we have faith to continue to pray for Hong Kong. Thank you everyone.