ASIA/HONG KONG - New President of the Association for Chinese priests in Hong Kong: “the priesthood should be a testimony to the vocation”

Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) – That “the priesthood should be a testimony to the vocation” is the hope expressed by Fr John B. Kwan Kit Tong, new President of the HK Diocesan Chinese Priests Association, straight after his appointment. According to reports by Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese diocesan bulletin), Fr John B. Kwan, diocesan priest, was elected the new President during the monthly members' meeting for the Association, on 16 March. The new President also expressed his desire to “promote fraternity among priests, to encourage each other on their priestly journey.” Fr Kwan underlined that “today still fewer people select the priesthood, so to make a good example as a priest is a testament to the vocation.”
According to statistics published by the Hong Kong Catholic Church Directory 2010, on 31 August 2009 the Diocese of Hong Kong counted 69 Chinese diocesan priests, 59 Chinese men religious (and 177 foreign men religious), 11 permanent deacons and 353,000 faithful. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 28/03/2011)