Discover
The identity of the nation
Hong Kong is one of the densest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world: about 7.5 million people live in a small territory, divided between gleaming skyscrapers, street markets, and green mountains that slope down to the sea. A former British colony, it returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 under the principle of one country, two systems, which guaranteed it autonomy and its own freedoms for fifty years. Today it is a Special Administrative Region of China, a crossroads between East and West.
Most of the population is ethnic Chinese, speaking Cantonese, in a city where English is also spoken and where Filipino, Indonesian, South Asian, and Western communities live side by side. Life is marked by the speed of business, the pursuit of efficiency and prosperity, and a strong cultural mix: Buddhist and Taoist temples next to cathedrals, feng shui next to stock exchanges.
Spiritually, Hong Kong is a field of contrasts. Traditional Chinese religions, with ancestor worship and folk deities, permeate the daily life of much of the population, while about a fifth declare no religion. Christians make up around 13% and the city has a mature church, with schools, hospitals, and long established social ministries, also serving as a base for translation and sending into the Chinese speaking world.
At the same time, attachment to material goods and pressure to perform leave many hearts empty amid abundance. High housing costs, competition, and recent political uncertainties have generated anxiety and a wave of emigration. There are little reached groups within the city itself: migrant workers, South Asian communities, the deaf, and others who have not yet heard the gospel in their own language and culture.
Hong Kong combines wealth, relative religious freedom, and an experienced church, making it a strategic place for prayer and service. It is a city that needs to rediscover that true security lies not in money or power, but in Christ, and that can carry this message to millions of Chinese people within and beyond its borders.
- 1842 After the First Opium War, Hong Kong Island is ceded to Great Britain under the Treaty of Nanking.
- 1860 The Convention of Peking adds the Kowloon Peninsula to British territory.
- 1898 The New Territories are leased to the United Kingdom for 99 years.
- 1941-1945 Japanese occupation during the Second World War.
- 1984 The Sino-British Joint Declaration sets out the handover to China under the one country, two systems principle.
- 1997 On July 1, Hong Kong returns to Chinese sovereignty as a Special Administrative Region.
- 2014 The Occupy Central movement, or Umbrella Revolution, calls for greater democracy.
- 2019 Large protests against an extradition bill mobilize the city.
- 2020 Beijing imposes the National Security Law, restricting political and expressive freedoms.
- Today A global city with a Chinese majority, a mature church, and new challenges around freedom and migration.
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Cantonesemother tongue of the majority, official language alongside English
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Englishofficial, widely used in business, law and education
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Mandarinincreasingly present, especially since 1997
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Tagalog and Indonesianspoken by large migrant worker communities
Hong Kong lies on the southern coast of China, in the Pearl River Delta, and is made up of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, and more than two hundred smaller islands. Despite its reputation as a concrete jungle, about three quarters of the territory is green space, mountains, and nature parks, and most of the population is concentrated along a narrow urban strip by the sea.
Major cities
- CentralFinancial heart, on Hong Kong Island
- KowloonDense urban area north of the harbor, trade and markets
- Tsim Sha TsuiTourist and cultural district on Victoria Harbour
- Sha TinPopulous hub of the New Territories
- AberdeenTraditional fishing village and harbor, on the south of the island
Climate and temperature
Dim sum
A variety of dumplings and small dishes served in bamboo baskets, a symbol of the Cantonese table.
Wonton noodles
Thin noodles in clear broth with shrimp filled dumplings, an everyday classic.
Egg tart
Buttery pastry with egg custard, a legacy of the colonial era, recognized as cultural heritage.
Char siu
Roast pork glazed with honey and spices, served over rice.
Cheung fun
Soft, slippery rice noodle rolls, filled and drizzled with soy sauce.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Bridge between East and West
Chinese culture and British heritage coexist in language, law, and daily life.
Fast pace and efficiency
The city values time, work, and practicality in business.
Family and respect for elders
Filial piety and ancestor worship mark many homes.
Feng shui and folk beliefs
Decisions about buildings, homes, and dates take harmony and luck into account.
Dense communal life
Space is small, and cafes, markets, and public transport are central to daily routine.
- Treating the city as a mere extension of China Hong Kong has its own identity, language, and history, valued by its residents.
- Raising sensitive political topics in public Matters tied to national security and the protests call for caution and discretion.
- Disregarding punctuality and efficiency Delays and disorganization come across as disrespectful in the local setting.
- Ignoring table customs Refusing offered food or pointing with chopsticks can offend.
- Mistaking prosperity for the absence of spiritual need Many live anxious and empty amid abundance.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
The pursuit of wealth and status has become a measure of worth and security for many.
Financial success becomes almost a religion in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Beliefs about luck, energies, and fate guide everyday decisions.
Devotion to the dead keeps generations bound to Chinese religious traditions.
Temples to deities such as Wong Tai Sin and Tin Hau draw crowds seeking fortune.
Extreme competition generates anxiety, exhaustion, and emotional illness.
Recent political tensions have wounded relationships, families, and communities.
Uncertainty over freedoms drives many into silence and insecurity.
Fast paced life and cramped space isolate people amid the crowd.
Prosperity does not fill the heart and leaves many without hope.
Hong Kong guarantees religious freedom by law, and Christians can gather, run churches, schools, and social ministries with considerable freedom day to day. Worship, evangelism, and Christian literature are not prohibited, and the city is home to a mature and active church.
The landscape, however, changed after the 2020 National Security Law and the complementary 2024 legislation. Although these measures do not target faith itself, they have created a climate of caution: leaders avoid topics tied to human rights, justice, and freedom in sermons, and some public social activities have been cancelled out of fear of violating the law.
Cases such as the arrest and prosecution of Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen, linked to a fund that aided protesters, showed that Christian figures engaged in social causes can become targets of the authorities. There is also growing concern over ties between churches and missionaries and foreign organizations, viewed with suspicion under the new legislation.
Thus, the pressure on Christians in Hong Kong today is more subtle than open: there is no violent persecution, but there is surveillance, self censorship, and uncertainty about the future of freedoms. The church faces the challenge of remaining faithful and courageous in an environment that has become more restricted.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Hong Kong is home to about 19 people groups, of which nearly 8 are considered unreached. The vast majority are ethnic Chinese, mainly Cantonese, along with Hakka communities and Chinese from other backgrounds. The city is also home to large groups of migrant workers, such as Filipinos and Indonesians, as well as South Asian, Nepali, Malay, and Thai communities and the deaf community, many of which still have little access to the gospel in their own language and culture. About 13% of the population is Christian and around 6% is evangelical.
- 430K Unreached 5,9%
- 47K Minimally reached 0,6%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 6.7M Partially reached 91%
- 182K Significantly reached 2,5%
- 8 Unreached 42,1%
- 1 Minimally reached 5,3%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 9 Partially reached 47,4%
- 1 Significantly reached 5,3%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Thai central
Hui Frontier
Japonês
Malay Frontier
Sul-Asiático
Vietnamitas
Nepalês genérico
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
one of the most expensive cities in the world, especially housing
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn some Cantonese: English gets you far, but Cantonese opens people's hearts.
- Use public transport: the MTR is fast, clean, and covers almost the whole city.
- Carry an Octopus card: used for transport, shops, and meals day to day.
- Be cautious with political topics: avoid sensitive discussions in public.
- Prepare for heat and humidity: summer is sweltering, with a typhoon season.
- Respect the fast pace: punctuality and efficiency are highly valued.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.