Hong Kong is divided into four main areas: Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, the New Territories, and the Outlying Islands. Kowloon and the New Territories are on a peninsula of the Chinese mainland, on the northern side of Victoria Harbour. Hong Kong Island is on the southern side of the harbor facing Kowloon. The Outlying Islands simply refers to any of the other 234 islands. The New Territories has a 12-mile land border with China proper. Until the British claimed Hong Kong in 1841, the area was a corner of the Qing dynasty empire inhabited by farmers, fishermen and pirates. In 1997, Hong Kong was handed back over to Chinese rule, though today, Hong Kong and mainland China remain significantly different.
Work in Hong Kong began after World War II when Mennonite Central Committee arrived to do relief and rehabilitation work. With continued work, three Mennonite congregations have since emerged: Grace, Agape and Hope. Ministries in Hong Kong focus on after-school tutorial programs, cell groups, and discipleship training.
