Monsignor Javier Herrera Corona, the Vatican's unofficial representative in Hong Kong, warned the local Catholic Church that the freedoms enjoyed in the past would no longer exist before leaving in March, urging the church to promptly protect funds, property and important documents, Reuters reported.
Sources told Reuters that the Vatican's unofficial representative office in Hong Kong had safely transported the archives out of Hong Kong through diplomatic channels from countries with friendly diplomatic ties.
After He Mingzhe's warning, at least three religious groups have already shipped their archives out of Hong Kong through diplomatic channels, and some groups are considering transferring their properties to local names and registering their boards of directors and companies in Hong Kong to avoid being suppressed.
2019 Begins to transfer files to multiple religious groups to follow
Reuters quoted three Catholic clerics as saying that He Mingzhe and his colleagues stationed in Hong Kong began to transfer files as early as 2019. During the process, they were worried that they would be closely monitored by the Chinese state security agency. Finally, the files weighing more than half a ton were successfully transported to Rome through friendly relations. , the data involved details of private correspondence with underground clerics in the mainland in the mid-1980s, missionary activities, and details of the persecution of Catholic believers.
After He Mingzhe's warning, at least three religious groups have successively transported their archives out of Hong Kong through diplomatic channels, and some groups are considering taking measures, including transferring their properties to local names, and registering their boards of directors and companies in Hong Kong to protect them Free from oppression.
Catholic Beachhead No Longer Chinese-Style Religious Control Comes to Hong Kong
According to reports, since October last year, He Mingzhe held 4 meetings in the Catholic Church in Hong Kong to express to the Hong Kong clergy to prepare for a difficult future in which China strengthens control over Hong Kong. One of the sources quoted He Mingzhe as saying that "changes are coming. Come, you better be prepared", "Hong Kong is no longer a beachhead for Catholics".
The report quoted sources as saying that in addition to the anti-amendment incident in 2019, Hong Kong took various high-handed measures on the grounds of national security, including the arrest of Cardinal Chen Rijun, bishop emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. He Mingzhe is more worried about the closer integration of Hong Kong and the mainland, "Chinese-style control of religious groups" will come to Hong Kong, and he argues that as pressure from Beijing mounts, churches can no longer rely on religious rights enshrined in the Basic Law.
Hong Kong government: The rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents are guaranteed by the Basic Law
The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government and the State Religious Affairs Bureau of the State Council did not respond to Reuters’ questions. A spokesman for the Hong Kong government responded that the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents are guaranteed by the Basic Law, and the National Security Law for Hong Kong also states that human rights should be protected and protected. respect.
Chen Rijun, through his assistant, declined to comment.
The U.S. publishes a report on religious freedom. The SAR government strongly opposes the misrepresentation. Li Dongguo says he respects Chen Rijun. Guan Haoming: Pray for him. 4 Trustees granted bail Vatican worried about Chen Rijun's arrest
