Incoming Bishop Tight-lipped On Political Issues
"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("

"); jQuery(document).ready(function() { jwplayer.key='EKOtdBrvhiKxeOU807UIF56TaHWapYjKnFiG7ipl3gw='; var playerInstance = jwplayer("jquery_jwplayer_1"); playerInstance.setup({ file: "https://newsstatic.rthk.hk/audios/mfile_1591494_1_20210518175700.mp3", skin: { url: location.href.split('/', 4).join('/') + '/jwplayer/skin/rthk/five.css', name: 'five' }, hlshtml: true, width: "100%", height: 30, wmode: 'transparent', primary: navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Trident")>-1 ? "flash" : "html5", events: { onPlay: function(event) { dcsMultiTrack('DCS.dcsuri', 'https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1591494-20210518.mp3', 'WT.ti', ' Audio at newsfeed', 'WT.cg_n', '#rthknews', 'WT.cg_s', 'Multimedia','WT.es','https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1591494-20210518.htm', 'DCS.dcsqry', '' ); } } }); }); });
2021-05-18 HKT 13:15
The incoming bishop of Hong Kong Stephen Chow on Tuesday said he is not afraid of commenting on controversial political issues, but believes “prudence is also a virtue”, as he sidestepped a number of contentious questions related to Beijing.
Chow was named by Pope Francis as the new leader of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong on Monday, filling a post that has been vacant for the past two years.
And meeting reporters for the first time since his appointment was announced, Chow was pressed on his political stance and whether he thinks Catholics are being suppressed in the mainland.
Chow responded that he didn’t want to use the word “suppression”, adding that he hopes there will be more understanding and harmony.
Asked about the removal of crosses from churches in the mainland, Chow said he was saddened to see it, but needed to learn more about what had happened.
With the incoming bishop choosing his words carefully, reporters asked if it will be his strategy to refrain from commenting on controversial political issues in order to avoid problems.
“I don’t think it’s wise for me to comment on matters, for example, China [that] I don’t quite understand... I don’t have enough information and knowledge,” he said.
“That would be rash. It’s not because I’m afraid. I believe prudence is also a virtue.”
Chow had said during an interview last year that he took part in demonstrations in Hong Kong following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Asked if he would join any commemorations this year, Chow said he wasn’t sure if it will be legal to do so.
“There are different means of commemoration: In the past, I would go and commemorate in the public arena. But there are times I couldn’t go,” he said. “So I pray – I pray for China, I pray for all those who passed in 1989.”
“Whether this year is possible, it depends on the legal requirement.”
Chow revealed to reporters that he initially refused to take up the post as he didn’t feel the call, but was swayed by a letter from Pope Francis.
He added that he didn’t know if his appointment had been approved by Beijing, saying that was a matter between China and the Vatican.
StartmeupHK Festival And Hong Kong Fintech Week 2025 Merge For 10th Anniversary Milestone
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced on 10 March 2025 that both of its flagship events, Hong Kong Fintech Week 2025 an... Read more
Ant AI-Powered Health Insurance Processes 7.25M Claims In 2024, 55%YoY Increase
In 2024, Ant Insurance, the online insurance brokerage platform of Ant Group, processed 7.25 million health claims, mar... Read more
Ping An Talent Uses AI For Job Matching, But Can Technology Make Recruitment Fairer?
Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. has launched its 2025 Spring Campus Recruitment, offering over 2,000 p... Read more
HKEX Partners With CMU OmniClear To Boost Post-Trade Securities Infrastructure
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced on 4 March 2025 that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding ... Read more
PAObank Secures Insurance Agency Licence, Partners With Ping An And FWD Hong Kong
PAO Bank Limited (PAObank) has received its Insurance Agency Licence from the Insurance Authority and signed strategic ... Read more
IFAST Launches Self-Service Accounts For Hong Kong Family Offices
Fintech solutions provider iFAST HK launches self-service accounts in Hong Kong, catering to the growing demand for ind... Read more