Jacqueline Pullinger
Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa
A citation written and delivered by Professor CHEUNG Yuet-wah
In the eyes of many in Hong Kong, the Kowloon Walled City held an air of mystery, notorious for its reputation as a haven for illicit activities such as triad societies, drug trafficking, prostitution, and unauthorized medical practices. It existed as a place of “three non-interventions,” outside the direct governance of Hong Kong, the British authorities, and Mainland China. It was not until 1987 that China and the UK jointly decided to demolish the Walled City. The demolition process was completed in 1994.
While portrayals of the Kowloon Walled City in the media often focus on its darker aspects — violence, illegal gambling, prostitution, poverty, etc. — they were hardly the full picture of life within its walls. Unlikely as it may seem, a 22-year-old British woman, fresh from music school, answered a divine calling and ventured to Hong Kong for missionary work, eventually making her home in the heart of the Walled City. Her unwavering dedication to aiding the destitute in one of Hong Kong’s most deprived areas gradually earned her the respect of residents and even the forbearance of criminal factions. Remarkable tales of criminals and opium addicts embracing Christianity and forging new life paths were vividly chronicled in her books Crack in the Wall: The Life and Death of Kowloon Walled City (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1973) and Chasing the Dragon: One Woman’s Struggle Against the Darkness of Hong Kong’s Drug Dens (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1980).
Dr. Pullinger embarked on her mission single-handedly, gradually assembling a team of volunteer helpers—many of whom were recent converts with histories of addiction or crime. Through word of mouth, the compassionate efforts of Dr. Pullinger and her team resonated with residents within and around the Walled City, earning her the title of “Hong Kong’s Mother Teresa”. Dr. Pullinger’s approach was simple yet profound: she delved into the hearts of individuals in distress, guiding them to draw upon inner strength to break free from their pasts and embrace a new life through God’s love.
The 1970s witnessed an expansion of their efforts in saving lives and souls, leading to the establishment of several homes for worship and drug rehabilitation. These initiatives culminated in the formal establishment of the St. Stephen’s Society in 1981. In 1985, the Hong Kong Government allocated the Hang Fook resettlement camp in Sham Shui Po to the Society, significantly bolstering their welfare and rehabilitation endeavours. Subsequently, in 1997, the Hong Kong Government allocated a plot of land in Shatin to the St. Stephen’s Society for the construction of multi-purpose rehabilitation homes, where individuals with multiple addictions and their caregivers resided together. After twenty-five years of profound community service, Dr. Pullinger garnered recognition, including an MBE from the UK in 1988 and an Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences from the University of Hong Kong in 1991.
Dr. Pullinger’s contributions to the Hong Kong society cannot be fully appreciated without a reference to the drug scene of Hong Kong in the second half of the 20th century. Opium, once legal in the British Colony of Hong Kong since the 19th century, left a troubling legacy of widespread opium addiction. During the early 20th century, heroin, a derivative of opium, gained popularity due to its ease of use, portability, and profitability compared to opium. By the 1940s, heroin had become the dominant illicit drug in Hong Kong, yet governmental attention towards the heroin crisis remained scarce. Treatment for narcotics addicts was limited to short-term detoxification services offered by a few hospitals until 1958, when a compulsory treatment programme was implemented for severe addicts within the prison population. In 1961, the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts (SARDA), a voluntary treatment NGO under government subvention, was founded, signaling the beginning of voluntary addiction treatment services. Consequently, two forms of treatment services emerged in Hong Kong since the 1960s: compulsory treatment for addicts in prisons and voluntary treatment services for addicts within the community.
As the concept of treating narcotics addiction began to take root in the minds of government officials and healthcare practitioners in the 1960s, the arrival of Dr. Pullinger in 1966 proved timely. Her pioneering work demonstrated that saving the lives of addicts could be achieved through a communal approach that involved addicts, their families, and dedicated staff members. Within this community, there was no room for discrimination, degradation, or punishment. Instead, addicts were enveloped in a nurturing environment characterized by love, hope, and support from spiritually connected brothers and sisters in the family of Jesus.
This setting could be described as a “Spiritual Community,” serving as one of the earliest forms of “Therapeutic Community,” an approach that has gained prominence in drug rehabilitation since the 1990s. Alongside Dr. Pullinger, several Christian organizations had also initiated rehabilitation efforts with addicts from the late 1960s onwards. Christian programmes that focused on saving both bodies and souls gradually emerged as a cornerstone of rehabilitation services for drug addicts in Hong Kong during the 1960s and 1970s. These initiatives not only became integral to Hong Kong’s drug treatment and rehabilitation landscape, but also served as a source of inspiration for the government, public health professionals, and social workers in shaping the evolving system for decades to come.
By the 2000s, the drug scene in Hong Kong underwent a significant transformation. A notable surge in the use of psychoactive substances, particularly ecstasy and ketamine, among young people, necessitated adaptations in the existing heroin-focused treatment facilities to cater to the needs of young psychoactive drug abusers. The government responded by allocating substantial resources and manpower to address the escalating problem of youth drug abuse, resulting in a marked decline in the prevalence of drug abuse among young people over the past decade. This shift underscores a proactive response to the changing dynamics of drug abuse, with a focus on tailored interventions to effectively combat emerging substance use trends among the youth population in Hong Kong.
Presently, Hong Kong’s drug intervention framework has evolved into a contemporary, efficient, and multifaceted system that leverages cutting-edge counselling and psychosocial methodologies while prioritizing positive treatment outcomes. Despite the increasing modernization and institutionalization in the organization of drug strategies, Christian religious programmes persist as pivotal components of drug rehabilitation initiatives.
The enduring legacy of the “spiritual community” model, pioneered by Dr. Pullinger six decades ago, stands as a testament to its enduring effectiveness. This approach, rooted in healing both the body and soul—a principle that has defined Dr. Pullinger’s lifelong dedication—remains a potent catalyst in motivating individuals struggling with addiction to break free from drug dependence and embark on a transformative journey towards a new life. The integration of Christian values and the holistic approach to healing continue to demonstrate their relevance and resilience in the realm of drug rehabilitation, underscoring the profound impact of spiritual support and comprehensive care in fostering rehabilitation and recovery among individuals grappling with the harms of substance abuse in Hong Kong.
Professor HU, in recognition of her role as a pioneer in the rehabilitation of drug addicts since the mid-1960s, and her continuous contributions to Hong Kong’s drug treatment and rehabilitation system over the decades, I present to you Dr. Jacqueline Pullinger for the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa.