The proposed legislation the diocese is referring to is Article 23, a locally developed national security bill that Hong Kong is fast-tracking into law.

It follows the one Beijing imposed in 2020 after quashing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

The bill is expected to be put to a legislature vote within days.

About the new law

The new law proposes a maximum jail term of 14 years for anyone who knows someone will commit treason but fails to report it to the police. In a three-sentence statement published on its website, the Diocese of Hong Kong says citizens "have an obligation to ensure national security".

However, according to the Diocese, this does not apply to Catholics who confess their sins.

The diocese also says that fears such a law could force Catholic priests to divulge information they heard in Confession to authorities are unnecessary.

Confessions to priests will remain confidential the diocesan office confirms.

Voiced concerns

UK-based activist group Hong Kong Watch has said this "directly threatens religious freedom" because it could compromise the confidentiality of confession.

The group thought it would force priests to reveal what was said in the confessional.

Hong Kong authorities defended the law's proposed criminal offence - which used to be called "misprision of treason".

Officials say it has long existed in the city and other common law countries. It does not have "anything to do with freedom of religion".

Responding to a lawmaker's question last week, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said it would be "very difficult to create exceptions" for people like clergy and social workers regarding the offence.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• UCANews.com
• South China Morning Post

The government of China has imposed a new national security law on Hong Kong. This was done without systematic consultation with the general public.

This law seriously diminishes Hong Kong's freedoms and destroys the city's "high degree of autonomy" promised under the "one country, two systems" principle.

This action brings the most significant change to Hong Kong's constitution and is offensive to the spirit and letter of the 1997 handover agreement between Britain and China.

Hong Kong is one of the jewels of Asia, a "Pearl of the Orient", a crossroads between East and West, a gateway to China, a regional hub for free trade and until now has enjoyed a healthy mixture of freedom and creativity.

A national security law is not in itself wrong.

Every country has a right to legislate to safeguard protect national security.

However, such legislation should be balanced with the protection of human rights, human dignity and basic freedoms.

The imposition of the law by China's National People's Congress seriously weakens Hong Kong's Legislative Council and Hong Kong's autonomy.

It radically changes Hong Kong's identity.

I am concerned that the law poses a threat to basic freedoms and human rights in Hong Kong.

This legislation potentially undermines freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, media freedom and academic freedom. Arguably, freedom of religion or belief is put at risk.

According to many reports, freedom of religion or belief in mainland China is suffering the most severe restrictions experienced since the Cultural Revolution.

Even if freedom of worship in Hong Kong is not directly or immediately affected, the new security law and its broad criminalization of "subversion", "secession" and "colluding with foreign political forces" could result, for example, in the monitoring of religious preaching, the criminalization of candlelit prayer vigils, and the harassment of places of worship that offer sanctuary or sustenance to protesters.

It is my prayer that this law will not give the government license to interfere in the internal affairs of religious organizations and the services they provide to the general public.

Clear assurance should be given for my brother bishops and fellow priests as they prepare their homilies, Protestant clergy as they ponder their sermons, and for religious leaders of other faiths too who must instruct their communities.

The participation of religious bodies in social affairs should not be disturbed.

Provisions in Hong Kong's Basic Law guarantee freedom of belief.

Will religious leaders now be criminalized for preaching about human dignity, human rights, justice, liberty, truth?

We have learned from heavy experience that wherever freedom as a whole is undermined, freedom of religion or belief — sooner or later — is affected.

Over the past year, there have been many protests in Hong Kong, most of them peaceful.

However, while over 9,000 protesters have been arrested, not a single police officer has been held accountable for their disproportionate brutality.

We hold that all — protesters and police officers — are accountable according to the law.

It is imperative that the underlying causes of unrest should be attended to and that meaningful reforms and compromises are reached.

This national security law threatens to exacerbate tensions, not to provide solutions.

For these reasons and in the spirit of the prophets, martyrs and saints of our faith, I urge people to pray for Hong Kong today.

Pray for the leaders of China and Hong Kong that they respect the promises made to Hong Kong, the promise to protect basic liberties and rights. May I urge all to pray for peace.

Source: UCANews.com

• Cardinal Charles Bo is the president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.