The UJC grew rapidly from a few dedicated people to become a large Jewish congregation in Hong Kong with about 220 family and single memberships. Since its inception, the UJC has been affiliated with the World Union for Progressive Judaism and is now a key congregation in the Union for Progressive Judaism.

In the Congregation's early years, lay leaders and other volunteers, mainly using their homes and offices, conducted services, organized programs and taught classes. From 1989-92, Rabbi Samuel Joseph, Professor of Jewish Religious Education, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, came to Hong Kong to lead High Holiday services. He served as the UJC's first Rabbi in residence during 1993-94. In those days, the UJC had no home ---- regular Friday evening Shabbat services and dinner at the American Club and the High Holidays Services were held in the modest auditorium of the China Fleet Club. Yet, under Rabbi Joseph's energetic leadership, the UJC grew to more than 200 members, who were offered a full congregational schedule including life cycle observances, festival and holiday services and celebrations, Bar/Bat Mitzvah classes and ceremonies for children and adults, and a variety of special programs.

The UJC's activities continued to expand throughout the 1990s. The move to a permanent home in the Jewish Community Centre (JCC) in 1995 gave a new impetus to the UJC's expansion. It gave the congregation its first permanent sanctuary in the JCC auditorium as well as administrative and rabbinical office space, and housing for the UJC Rabbi in the adjoining residential complex.

As a consequence, the Congregation grew and strengthened its position in the Jewish community under the guidance of Rabbi Howard Kosovske (1994-96) , Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman (1996-97), Rabbi Joel Oseran (1997-98), Rabbi Jordan Cohen (1998-2001) and Rabbi Lee Diamond (2001-2004).

Rabbi Michael Schwartz became the UJC's seventh Rabbi in September 2004. Ordained at the Conservative seminary in Jerusalem, Rabbi Schwartz has spent the last ten years in Israel. or the two years prior to joining the UJC, he served as the founding director of Rabbis for Human Rights' yeshiva program.

Julie Howard joined the UJC as our cantorial soloist in 1999. Following a two-year hiatus, she rejoined us in September 2003.