Church leaders have supported huge Hong Kong protests calling for the withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill and the resignation of the Chinese territory’s leader. Although chief executive Carrie Lam announced on 15 June that she had suspended the proposed extradition law in the formerly British, now Chinese, territory, an estimated two million people turned out in record numbers last weekend.
After the rally, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing of Hong Kong participated in an ecumenical prayer meeting outside the Legislative Council building with thousands of young Christians. “No matter how long they stay, I will continue to stay with them,” he said. The often tearful bishop has supported the mostly young protesters, saying, “all we want is to have the freedom to which everyone is entitled and no longer live in fear”.
The Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students, Justice and Peace Commission of Hong Kong, Diocesan Youth Commission of Hong Kong and the Justice and Peace Group of the Franciscans organised a Mass and a prayer meeting during the protests. Many Christians are concerned that the proposed bill will increase Chinese influence over Hong Kong and could be used by Beijing to extradite people from Hong Kong on such charges as smuggling, if they have sent Bibles to mainland China.
The Diocese of Hong Kong has called for the government and public to exercise restraint and seek peaceful resolution. Cardinal John Tong Hon, Apostolic Administrator of Hong Kong, is in Rome this week accompanying an interreligious group on a visit to the Vatican. He said the group had agreed on a three-pronged appeal – that “If protesters go out to express their opinions, they should be respected,” that protests must be nonviolent, and that consensus should be reached through dialogue.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former archbishop of Hong Kong, said “There is hope. There is hope,” when asked by the Hong Kong bureau of the Epoch Times about the large turnout.
The extradition legislation, officially called the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019, would allow mainland China extradition rights over any Hong Kong resident, including foreign nationals and tourists.