Watchtower sells property in Hong Kong

[Dustparticle]

Here an article on this https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3283378/hong-kong-religious-group-sells-us14-million-property-home-market-perks?module=top_story&pgtype=section

[Hope]

Getting out of China? 🤔

[Shawnster]

Hong Kong is under Chinese control. The work banned in China. Hong Kong's unique situation under Chinese law is coming to an end. 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-52765838

Quote

 

In 2020, Hong Kong was transformed when China introduced the controversial national security law (NSL).

 

Created in response to the protests which erupted in Hong Kong the year before, the law made illegal a wider range of dissenting acts while reducing the city's autonomy in several ways.

 

Beijing and Hong Kong authorities argue the law is necessary to maintain stability and deny it has weakened autonomy.

 

But critics have called it "the end of Hong Kong" and say it has created a climate of fear in the city.

 

 

Yeah, might be prudent to make adjustments.  

[Brandon]

2 hours ago, Hope said:

Getting out of China?

We don’t own any property in mainland China, and I don’t think the WTS sells buildings based on possible future political scenarios that may or may not happen. Probably more just using assets wisely; the article seems to suggest the worth of these assets has appreciated significantly, and it may be that they are no longer needed any more. 

[Hope]

Hong Kong is China, though. I think the info @Shawnster provided hits the point.

[Brandon]

36 minutes ago, Hope said:

Hong Kong is China

It’s actually not. It has its own government. I know witnesses who used to serve there. We have Kingdom Halls there too, something the CCP certainly does not allow in mainland China

[LeolaRootStew]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

We don’t own any property in mainland China, and I don’t think the WTS sells buildings based on possible future political scenarios that may or may not happen. Probably more just using assets wisely; the article seems to suggest the worth of these assets has appreciated significantly, and it may be that they are no longer needed any more. 

 

Didn't they get out of NYC partially because they knew it would get bad there?

[Hinata]

This has been announced a while back for us.

 

The Korea Branch will be managing the former Hong Kong Branch area, as seen in the following jw.org “Contact Us” page:

 

https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/contact/hong-kong/

 

Edit: I have found the congregation announcement. I have translated it with DeepL and will share it here since it’s related.

 

Spoiler

Congregation Announcement

December 25, 2023

1. Consolidation of Branch Areas: In recent years, the Governing Body has been working to consolidate the work being done in branch offices in various countries around the world. The purpose of doing so is to continue to provide the spiritual guidance needed by the brothers in the field while utilizing the personnel assigned to support this work as best as possible. To that same end, the Governing Body has decided that the Korea Branch will oversee theocratic activities in Hong Kong. This transition will take place in an orderly, theocratic process over the coming months. The needs of the congregations currently under the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Branch, longtime Bethel volunteers, and special full-time field servants will be lovingly cared for. The branch office will communicate with the elders' councils and congregations by letter as the details of the consolidation work are finalized.

 

2. In the first century, God’s people were spiritually blessed by the theocratic guidance provided by the Governing Body, as Acts 16:4, 5 tells us: “As they traveled throughout the cities, they brought to the people in those places the regulations established by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, that they might observe them; and the congregations continued to be strengthened in the faith and increased in number day by day.” The Korean Branch Committee fully supports this wise decision by the Governing Body. We are confident that you will, too. Jehovah will bless those of you who are willing to support the theocratic direction of “those who are leading.”—Hebrews 13:17.

 

3. Although the branch overseeing Hong Kong has changed, there will be no change in essential spiritual arrangements, such as congregation meeting arrangements, circuit overseer visits, or conventions. Mature brothers and sisters currently serving in the Hong Kong Bethel will be appointed as regular or special pioneers to associate with congregations in the area that need more elders or ministerial servants. We are very excited about the good results that this decision will bring.

 

4. We are all following in the steps of Jehovah, the Great Shepherd, and we hope you are determined to benefit from this adjustment as well. He will lead us, in a spiritual sense, to grassy pastures full of peace and renewed strength. (Psalm 23:1-3) We send you our warm Christian love.

 

Edited October 24 by Hinata

[Brandon]

2 hours ago, Shawnster said:

The work banned in China.

The meeting listings are literally there on JW.org, idk what to tell you 🙃

[JennyM]

 I heard about this from a friend who worked in HongKong 

[LeslieDean]

My son lives in China going on 13 years now. He told me when he first moved there that another ESL teacher was a witness living abroad and attended meetings in Hong Kong. Its been so long now but i think he took a ferry across to Hong Kong for the meetings as this was the only place JW activity was allowed.