There was some excitement in Hong Kong’s under-pressure independent media on Aug. 7 when it came to light that Catholic education authorities had urged schools to follow nationalistic new practices introduced on the back of tough new national security legislation. But this seemed to have buried the real story — the short and medium-term future Read more
A climate of fear and confusion descended upon Hong Kong almost immediately after Beijing’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee took just 15 minutes to sign off on the biggest changes to the territory since the handover from Great Britain 23 years ago today. Within six hours of a new security law being passed at just 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
On behalf of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, I call on Christians of all traditions and people of all faiths, throughout Asia and the world, to pray for Hong Kong, and indeed for China and all her people, with great insistence. The government of China has imposed a new national security law on Hong Read more
The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences is concerned about China’s new security law in Hong Kong. In a statement, Cardinal Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon in Myanmar and president of the Asian Bishops’ Conferences says the bishops are calling for Christians to pray for the people of Hong Kong and China. China’s President Xi Jinping Read more
When I was 18, I arrived in Beijing, found my luggage had been lost in Karachi and, needing a change of clothes, bought a T-shirt that said: “You are not a real man if you have not climbed the Great Wall of China.” In subsequent years I not only walked along various parts of the Read more
History is repeating itself in Hong Kong. In 2003, after the SARS epidemic, attempts were made to introduce a national security law. Similarly, it is happening now as the coronavirus recedes. But this time we fear there will be no happy ending. It is difficult to find words that we have not already written to Read more
Coronavirus and the threat of its spreading through populations is resulting in many religious leaders cancelling services and suggesting the faithful follow services online. There will be no masses in Hong Kong before the end of this month, while in Singapore masses have been suspended until further notice. Similarly, the Churches are suspending large public Read more
Cardinal Joseph Zen has taken aim at the Vatican for its silence on Hong Kong, the Uyghur concentration camps in Xinjiang and growing religious repression in mainland China. The city’s cardinal emeritus, who has been politically active in protests against any encroaching power by Beijing, used international media to take aim at the Holy See Read more
Police are being accused of using excessive force in arresting protesters at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Hong Kong. CNA reports the excessive force was deployed as peaceful pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong escalated into violence. Video on social media shows at least four riot police officers entering offices at the Church and violently subduing a Read more