‘That Hong Kong prisoners can see the light’

In his Easter message, the bishop remembered the 6,000 people detained awaiting trial for “violence” in 2019 and pleaded for clemency: “Waiting indefinitely will not help them or our society.” A thought for those who have left Hong Kong: “God will not abandon those of us who sincerely invoke him, seeking a fairer and freer homeland for all who live in it.”

Hong Kong () – A gesture of clemency for those incarcerated awaiting trial for arrests related to the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations. Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan requested it in his message to the diocese on the occasion of Easter, which was published in the last few hours. Words that focus on the invitation to hope even in the midst of the “continuous suffering” of Hong Kong. In the text, the prelate remembers those who experienced the weight of the serious economic crisis, but also the void left by those who chose to leave in recent years due to the restricted space for freedom. And he assures the faithful that “God will not abandon those who sincerely invoke him, seeking a more just and free homeland for all who inhabit it.” We publish below the full text of Bishop Chow’s Easter message.

And he said to them: “Fools and slow of heart to believe in the word of the prophets. Did not Christ have to endure these sufferings to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24, 25-26).

The “slowness of heart to believe” in the joy of Easter makes us slow to hope. Christ Jesus has overcome the seemingly inevitable jaws of death. His resurrection assures us of the confidence that death does not have and cannot have the last word. In fact, Easter means that “nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39). Therefore, our hope is based on the amazing love of God that is manifested in the risen Lord for all areas of life in this world.

It is advisable not to allow adversity or bad thoughts to corrupt our hearts or crush our spirits, lest we become messengers of death. We are asked for “a positive and life-giving culture” that allows us to face life’s difficulties in a constructive and sustainable way. Also, we need a positive culture to become incubators of hope and transformation.

It is a fact that many people in Hong Kong continue to fight for hope amid ongoing suffering. The economy has only just begun to recover, so many people struggling in the lower socioeconomic strata continue to need assistance and psychological support from their social communities and “neighbors”. These people should not be perceived as a burden on society, but as intermediaries of heavenly blessings for those who come to their aid.

So, for those who don’t need their coupons, there are others who will find the generous sharing of those few thousand dollars uplifting. Imagine how much comfort, trust, and hope that sharing can bring to those who need those extra dollars. God emptied himself for us, so that we could be eternally comforted in his name and in his love.

According to reports published last December, in 2019 there were some 6,000 arrests due to violence. They are still waiting to see if the police will charge them or not. When will they see the light? Charges or no charges, they need signs to show them how to proceed. Waiting indefinitely will not help them or our society to move towards healing. Some will want to seek justice through punitive means. But it is through compassion and leniency for the most minor offenses that hope and positive energy can be brought to our wounded community. We have seen how hatred and violence have brought the stench of death to our beloved Hong Kong. Now, we must rely on compassion and magnanimity to strengthen the fragrance of life in our ailing Hong Kong.

Caring for the elderly, especially those “abandoned” or living alone, must be a priority. Connecting with those who care for them will allow them to experience a deeper sense of generativity towards others, to be appreciated by them and to be connected with the young people, who are the continuation of their future. All this will contribute to a greater sense of unity, hope and meaning in life. It should come as no surprise that young and old get along better than other age groups.

We say goodbye to many friends and family who left or decided to leave Hong Kong for their aspirations. Although we wish them the best, their departure has created glaring gaps in various layers of our social fabric that are not easy to fill. And we don’t know when those gaps will be filled. But we can trust that our God, who has bestowed his blessings on Hong Kong throughout our history, will not abandon those of us who sincerely invoke him, seeking a fairer and freer homeland for all who inhabit it.

Finally, we live in an anxious and disordered world, dominated by a political mentality entrenched through power games, intimidation, accusations, threats and sanctions… We want a new world with conditions of fairness, empathy and respect, a culture of dialogue, loving-kindness, unity in plurality, better distribution of resources, environmental awareness… Of course, we are not so naive as to expect sudden positive changes, but gradual development with sincere and meaningful efforts will be positive.

Future generations must receive hope from us. We must make possible the hope of a better future for each other. Happy Easter to all of you, not just in Hong Kong.

* Bishop of Hong Kong