Let all claimants stay, says bishop

2002-1-16
South China Morning Post

One of the heads of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong, Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, is appealing to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to allow all the losing claimants from last week's abode case to remain in the SAR.

A coalition of Christian groups is meanwhile planning to publish a series of newspaper advertisements next week appealing to the Government to let the abode seekers stay.

In an article to be published in the diocese's weekly paper, the Sunday Examiner, Bishop Zen, coadjutor of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese, questioned the justice of last week's Court of Final Appeal ruling.

Is Hong Kong's immigration policy so sacred that it is possible to disregard one of the most fundamental and internationally recognised human rights - family unity? Has the Judiciary become the instrument of the Government? he asked.

He urged Mr Tung to grant a concession to allow those already in Hong Kong to stay, saying it would not lead to new litigation or tides of illegal immigrants as it was a one-off situation.

This would remedy the injustice of the reinterpretation [of the Basic Law] and of the court ruling, he said.

Let all the citizens and politicians . . . unite to assure Mr Tung that this is the desire of the people. We hope that by granting this concession Mr Tung may show to the world that Hong Kong is still a society of love and compassion.

Hong Kong Christian Institute director Rose Wu Lo-sai said a number of Christian groups would take out newspaper advertisements with a joint statement next week opposing the ejection of the migrants.

The family is the fundamental unit of society, Ms Wu said. We will not only appeal to the Government but also to the general public that humanitarianism is very important.

She said about 30 Christian leaders would approach religious groups and collect signatures in an attempt to persuade the Government to broaden its policy allowing the claimants to stay.

The joint statement will be published next week - Christian Unity Week - in an attempt to send a message across the community urging people to unite and show concern for the right-of-abode victims, Ms Wu said.

She warned of social problems and instability if the claimants were forced to go back. We cannot grant abode status based on numbers. Actually, the broken families would lead to much more serious social problems.