Hong Kong’s Catholic bishop says the national security law is confusing and needs to be clarified. Ambiguity has been created in the way Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing authorities use the national security law. This has sown “confusion over what could be said and what could not”, says Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan (pictured). Such a situation is Read more
China’s crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong has led a Catholic prelate to ask regional leaders to put people first. Give young people a reason to trust authority, Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong suggests in a special message published last Friday. Among the advantages he lists is a greater sense of unity in a Read more
Hong Kong’s Facebook and WhatsApp laws have drawn criticism from around the world. Several countries, including the UK, have criticised China for imposing new security laws, which they say threaten the territory’s long-standing autonomy. Facebook said it would stop considering the requests, “pending further assessment” of the human rights issues. No personal information about users Read more
The Catholic Church in Hong Kong is demanding an end to a police harrassment of pro-democracy activists. The Church says the political repression of those demanding democratic rights in the China-administered region is wrong. Hong Kong police arrested 15 pro-democracy activists last weekend, including former legislators because of their roles in Hong Kong’s mass protests Read more
Under a new landmark deal with the Vatican, Beijing will recognise Pope Francis as the head of China’s Catholics. In return, the Vatican will recognise excommunicated Chinese bishops. The deal will end a long struggle between Beijing’s Communist rulers and the pope over who chooses the leaders of Catholicism in China. “It is a baby Read more
Chinese Catholics who belong to the country’s underground churches are worried. They think the Vatican and Chinese government’s plan to sign an agreement about appointing bishops will mean legitimate bishops will have to step down in favour of state-appointed ones. The agreement, which is only “a few months” away, would allow the Vatican to help Read more
The massive pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong are partly motivated by a desire to stop China’s communist government from clamping down on Christianity. The protesters are calling for democratic elections in Hong Kong, demanding the right to vote for a leader of their choice in 2017, without restrictions from Beijing. But some commentators see a Read more
Retired Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong has sharply criticised a Chinese white paper that emphasises Beijing’s total control of the special administrative region. “You (the Chinese communists) can tie me up, can take me away, chop my head off, but not as a slave,” said the cardinal in an online radio programme on Read more