The Practical Prophet: Bishop Ronald O. Hall of Hong Kong and His Legacies (HB)

As the longest serving and the most influential bishop of Hong Kong, Bishop R. O. Hall (何明華會督) played a crucial role in the reconstruction of the Anglican Church and Hong Kong after WWII. Born in England, the bishop committed his life to building bridges: between China and England; between Hong Kong workers and company management; between the government and the Hong Kong people; and between the Hong Kong people he loved and the Divine he worshipped. His single-mindedness in pursuing and translating the social theology of F. D. Maurice into practical terms resulted in his enormous contributions to the development of social welfare, low-cost housing, and education in postwar Hong Kong and helped spur its economic and social evolution into a global city. Based on primary archival and private materials, this book shows that Bishop Hall, whole-hearted in pursuit of his goals for Hong Kong through “love-in-action,” was also multifaceted.

Moira M. W. Chan-Yeung is professor emeritus of medicine at the University of British Columbia and honorary professor of medicine at the University of Hong Kong. This biography is her second non-medical scholarly work after her retirement.