Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - A photo exhibition regarding the 60 years of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and a journey of the Catholic university students in northern Thailand, in the refugees camps from Myanmar: these are some initiatives in sight of the Refugee Day which is celebrated on June 20, sponsored by the UN. According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), from 21 to 29 June, the Association of Catholic University Students of Hong Kong and the Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Hong Kong will bring about twenty Catholic university students to northern Thailand to get to know and personally experience the lives of refugees from Myanmar who live in the refugee camp, so "they may know the reality of refugees and in turn raise awareness about the right to development for everyone."
In addition to Caritas and diocesan organizations, even the Catholic associations are active in this field. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Hong Kong in October 2009 gave birth to the Support Group to Refugees mobilizing its members to 8 parishes in Hong Kong, to provide transportation, food and financial support to refugees, thus completing the service offered by the institutions and from the international organizations. They have also established close contact with the priests who work for refugees and the parish priests, to offer timely direct support, witnessing the Christian and Vincentian spirit.
Today there are about 7,000 refugees in Hong Kong who are waiting for official recognition of their status. They are part of the 10,400,000 refugees in the world (until the beginning of the year 2011), who now cannot work or do not have the right for regular education. Caritas, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), the Center for Jesuit Refugee Service, and numerous other Catholic organizations have long been committed to meet their material, moral, spiritual and even legal needs. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 17/06/2011)
