Carrie Lam drops policy that concerned Hong Kong Catholics

She apologized for any confusion, saying proposal wasn't about controlling religions.

Hong Kong:  The early favorite in the race to become Hong Kong's next chief executive has rescinded a controversial religious policy following strong opposition from Hong Kong Catholics.

Former Chief Secretary of Hong Kong Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor gave up her proposed policy that included the possible set up of a "Religious Affairs Unit" that met objections from Cardinal John Tong of Hong Kong and the diocese because of fears it could introduce a system similar to that in mainland China.

According to a March 3 statement put out by Hong Kong Diocese, the cardinal wrote to Lam "expressing the diocese's resolute opposition of a possible 'setting up of a Religious Affairs Unit' or similar institutions in Hong Kong."

It was feared by many Catholics that Lam's proposed policy was an attempt to introduce the Chinese Communist Party's model of "religious affairs" in Hong Kong.

Lam, a practicing Catholic, told the cardinal March 3 that the proposal had no intention to control religions and that she was withdrawing her religious policy, which was part of her 47-page election manifesto, reported Hong Kong media. Reports said that Lam apologized for any confusion.

Lam was the only candidate in the chief executive election to propose a religious policy.

However, other religious heads — who are supporters of Lam — have said that some of Hong Kong's Catholics overreacted.

Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon, provincial secretary general of the Hong Kong Anglican Church, said the demands on Lam to remove the proposed idea were "ungrateful."

According to online media HK01, Koon said Confucianist and Taoists leaders in Hong Kong had requested a Religious Affairs Unit be set up while pro-Beijing media also urged for such policies.

Koon added that Anglican Archbishop Paul Kwong of Hong Kong, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was disappointed that Lam's proposal had been withdrawn.

Lam along with John Tsang, the former Financial Secretary and Woo Kwok-hing, a retired judge, are the three candidates for the fifth Chief Executive election to be held on March 26.

According to government statistics, around 30 percent of the 7.37 million people in Hong Kong are believers of different religions. There are 590,000 Chinese and foreign Catholics here, according to latest statistics from Hong Kong Diocese.

Source: UCAN