Good News Announced in Hong Kong

On October 17 conventioners began to arrive in the British crown colony of Hong Kong, with its high-rise buildings and teeming population, perched precariously on the coastland of Communist China. Local Witnesses began to sense the international tone of the assembly when thirty-five delegates from Singapore and Malaysia arrived at the Kai Tak Airport. They were met and taken directly to accommodations arranged in the homes of their spiritual brothers and sisters in Hong Kong.

The public lecture came on the second day. The largest attendance up to this point was 303. To the joy of all those present, the figure climbed to 678 as the public address “The Approaching Peace of a Thousand Years” was presented. That meant that one and a half times more than the total number of local Witnesses were interested in learning about God’s provision for “peace on earth”!

On Monday, release of the English edition of Is the Bible Really the Word of God? brought much pleasure to the conventioners. Was it not wonderful to have something that comes to grips with objections raised by scientists, historians and religious critics? Convincing evidence that the Bible is of divine origin makes it all the more imperative that its wholesome principles be put into practice with a view to attaining peace and unity.

One tour conducted for the benefit of Western delegates took them to within sight of the Communist territory​—the Bamboo Curtain. They saw, as a barrier, a wire fence and a narrow river. Would the Bible’s peaceful message ever penetrate there? It would, if that is Jehovah’s will, for it is all God’s good earth to which he will in his own way soon bring everlasting peace and righteousness.

Hong Kong truly shared in the eye-opening publicity that attended the “Peace on Earth” Assemblies. No doubt many humble people were impressed by the unity and peace so evident among Jehovah’s worshipers, and so lacking among the population at large.

Full-time preachers at Hong Kong assembly delighted to receive new book in Chinese, “Life Everlasting​—in Freedom of the Sons of God”