Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) – Broaden horizons, find time to be close to young people and invite everyone - especially those who express opinions from afar - to consider the events and the situation of the Church in Hong Kong following reasonable criteria and adhering to objective facts. These are some of the goals for the future outlined by Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, Bishop of Hong Kong, in an interview with the diocesan weekly KungKaoPo (天主教香港教區週報), on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of his episcopal consecration, celebrated on December 4, 2021. In his responses, the Jesuit Cardinal also expresses praise for his team of collaborators and mentions that he watches Chinese fiction series to improve his Mandarin.
In the interview, the Cardinal notes that, during his visits abroad, he often has the opportunity to explain the situation in Hong Kong to groups and individuals who make judgments without knowing the situation on the ground and based on inaccurate news reports.
The Bishop of Hong Kong adds that he is neither intimidated nor scandalized by criticism or attacks, acknowledging that "this is what a cardinal should do." He refers to a recent trip to Australia, where he had gone “to share my experiences of life in Hong Kong. I believe that anything said must be based on facts; rumors should not be spread. Otherwise, one only risks making things more confusing, more complicated, and hindering dialogue. Perhaps,” he adds, “I don’t have an answer for every question, but at least I hope that citizens abroad understand the situation of the Church in Hong Kong.” Furthermore, “as a Cardinal, I believe that some things must be said. For example, when a journalist asked me, “In Hong Kong there is a lack of religious freedom and religions are persecuted…,” if I had remained silent, it would have implied tacit consent to such statements. In reality, it depends on what one means by ‘religious freedom.’ I replied, “Come to Hong Kong and see for yourself.” I don’t perceive any religious persecution here. We can freely attend church, regardless of age; Catholics can run schools in Hong Kong and talk about religion in schools; Caritas Hong Kong offers a variety of services to citizens, many of which are funded by the government. “I sincerely hope that everyone will become well-informed about the facts before engaging in any sensible discussion.” Following the tragic fire that destroyed six Hong Kong skyscrapers, Cardinal Chow launched two collections for the families of the 158 victims, also offering spiritual support to Catholics and all residents of Hong Kong in the face of this collective tragedy. “The Lord,” he said in his homily on Sunday, November 30, “is not a distant deity, detached from earthly concerns. He is close to us, He walks beside us along the path of our lives. He shares our joys and our sorrows, participates in our feelings… We can trust that the Lord, who loves life, will care for the souls of the deceased.” Regarding the causes of the tragedy, he affirmed that it is necessary to maintain a spirit of inquiry in order to "engage in self-criticism, objectively and courageously identify the errors, and commit ourselves to implementing appropriate remedies or fundamental reforms," without succumbing to hatred or mutual recrimination. (Agenzia Fides, 7/12/2025)
