ICC Note: Three Hong Kong religious experts shed light on the increasing religious crackdown, human rights violations, and Sino-Vatican relations on a Taiwanese news program. They agree that religious freedom in Hong Kong and in mainland China had been diminished by the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
08/09/2018 (UCA News) – Three Hong Kong religious experts spoke about religious freedom, human rights and Sino-Vatican relations on a Taiwanese TV show.
They told the Formosa News Taiwan program that religious freedom in Hong Kong and in mainland China had been reduced by the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The three guests were regime critic Sang Pu, Professor Ying Fuk-tsang, director of the divinity school at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Sister Beatrice Leung Kit-fun, a Sino-Vatican relations specialist.
Sang Pu told the show that the CCP’s policy of eliminating religion had been in place since its founding but had become more severe, especially after the implementation of revised regulations on religious affairs on Feb. 1.
“Various religions face all kinds of suppression, especially the Catholic Church, Protestant Church and Islam,” the lawyer said.
After a Muslim CCP member returned from the Hajj in Mecca, he was expelled because no party members could have religious beliefs, he said.
“Some churches were forcibly demolished in front of the faithful. All holy icons posted in villages had to be replaced with a portrait of Xi Jinping, otherwise a government subsidy and poverty alleviation fund would not be available,” Sang said.
Ying said the CCP still claimed to have religious freedom but it had been exploited and was different from what people thought.
…
For interviews with Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.
