"Frustration"? Yes. Looking back over the seven years since the handover, we can't help realising that core values like justice and compassion have been seriously eroded in this, our beloved city, and that the government must shoulder much of the blame. Inhuman policies have followed one after another, the weak of society have been driven to despair: through the reinterpretation of the Basic Law, families have been split; through admimistive measures, the right of schooling has been denied to children; the public order ordinance sought to limit the right of assembly; indiscriminate cuts in subsidies for the poor took four-hundred dollars [a month] from the already low salaries of domestic helpers under the pretext of a "training fund", newcomers from the Mainland have been punished by making them wait seven years for entitlement to comprehensive subsidies; the gap between rich and poor has widened; the rule of law has often been damaged.

"Anger"? Yes. Last year, the government refused to issue a consultative white paper on Article 23 and tried to push through a very bad law which could make anyone an offender. With the rally on the 1 July 2003 we showed our disapproval and the government seemed to have recognised the mistake. But ill-intentioned people led the authorities to believe that Hong Kong people didn't even care about national security while still demanding more democracy. At the beginning of the year, so-called defenders of the law were sent to teach us a lesson on patriotism. Then in April, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress came out with an interpretation of the Basic Law and a "decision", which excluded the possibility of universal suffrage for 2007/08 even before we had a chance to discuss the issue; the "decision" even fixed the proportion of directly elected seats to those from functional constituencies. We have been disregarded, we feel insulted and we have been deprived of our rights. The July 1 rally is a good occasion for us to let out our anger, to tell the Central leadership how much those rude interventions have hurt our feelings and damaged mutual trust.

The July 1 rally is not a celebratory procession. It is a protest rally. A peaceful protest, but a strong protest nonetheless! The Standing Committee's action cannot be reconciled with the "One Country Two Systems" principle and has ignored the high degree of autonomy to which we are entitled in the Basic Law.

Some people say that reconciliation is better than confrontation. Sure. But those who have caused the damage are bound to repair it. We have been wronged, are we supposed to keep quiet or beg for understanding? Let the offenders do something or let the higher-up leaders come to give a fair judgement.

We believers can forgive easily, but our personal interests are not what is at stake here, at stake is the development of democracy in Hong Kong. This will determine the long-term stability and prosperity of the city as well as whether this city is going to contribute positively to the whole country or just become a burden.

Some people have come out to warn marchers against certain slogans being adopted, "they would irritate your father". Come on! Are we choosing a favourite song? We are protesting with our tears! What is wrong with "Give back the power to the people"? Everybody knows its meaning. To read into it the colonial conspiracy of years gone by is completely unnecessary. If "the father" wants to misunderstand there is no way you can prevent him,

We are well-intentioned citizens, we love our country, we love Hong Kong. In this historical moment, by joining the July 1 rally we hope to awaken consciences. Our aim is to achieve cordial collaboration with everyone and to safeguard the rights granted to us by the Basic Law in fidelity to the principle of "One Country Two Systems". We want to have real participation in the discussion about constitutional reform, a discussion with no prejudice and no pre-conditions to weigh objectively all the pros and cons of universal suffrage and make a judgement on the right pace of democratic progress, so that the wisdom which comes to each of us from the Lord may benefit all.

+ Joseph Zen Ze-kiun
Bishop of Hong Kong