Agenzia Fides

Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - The latest census of 2011 commissioned by the Special Administration of Hong Kong, once again confirms the trend already recorded in previous years: the aging of society in Hong Kong. This reality poses to the local Catholic community a new call to missionary work and qualified pastoral care, and a special commitment to the family. According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), today the average age of the population of Hong Kong has increased to 41.7 years instead of the 39.6 in 2006. The percentage of boys and girls aged between 10 and 14 years has decreased to 4.7% (330 thousand) instead of 6% in 2006. Commenting on the statistics, the Catholic leaders have confirmed that "we must give maximum attention to youth evangelization and to the transmission of faith on behalf of the family, with active participation in Church life." Moreover, "even the Catholic school and parish have an important role." As far as the evolution of the social structure is concerned, "the new continental and foreign immigrants demand an adequate continental pastoral project. However, we have good reason to have hope, because the numbers of the newly baptized have constantly been increasing in recent years." (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 31/5/2012)