TUNKI, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. - In the south-eastern part of the province of Anhwei, in central China.
It was erected on 22 Feb. 1937 from 6 civil Wuhu (v.) and was entrusted to the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians), who had been on the spot since Oct. 1933. It has an area of approximately 12,000 sq. km. As of 30 June 1948, out of a total population of approximately 2,500,000 inhabitants, there were 2,116 Catholics and 652 catechumens; 18 priests, 5 lay brothers; 18 nuns, 8 of them Chinese; and 5 seminarians. Its works included 5 medical dispensaries and 9 schools with 28 teachers and 801 pupils.
The mountainous nature of the territory of T., the lack of roads until recent years, and still more the limited availability of personnel, have restricted the progress of Christianity in this region. At the time of its erection, T. had 1,902 baptized persons and 1,804 catechumens, distributed among 12 Christian communities, only 7 of which had a residence for the missionary.