Hong Kong cardinal helps lead rally, march for direct elections

Published: 2008-01-14

HONG KONG (CNS) -- About 200 lay Christians and clergy -- including Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun -- attended a prayer rally before joining thousands protesting the central government's decision not to allow direct elections for Hong Kong officials in 2012. Cardinal Zen told the Jan. 13 prayer rally he "regretted and was angry" that the Chinese government in Beijing ignored the aspirations of Hong Kong residents, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. The cardinal also said he doubted that the elections for chief executive in 2017 and all members of the Legislative Council in 2020 would be conducted in a truly democratic manner. "We hope for respect and dialogue. We will hold on to our stance (for universal suffrage in 2012) right to the end and believe in the power of prayer," he added. The Civil Human Rights Front and pro-democracy legislators called the rally to protest a Dec. 29 decision by the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress ruling out universal suffrage in the 2012 elections for Hong Kong's chief executive and legislators.

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