<![CDATA[Hong Kong's Christians attend extradition bill protests in good faith]>

When Polly Lui On-yee's shift at the Queen Mary Hospital ended one afternoon in 2014, the police were firing tear gas " for the first time in nearly a decade " to disperse thousands of protesters outside the government headquarters complex in Admiralty.

She immediately hopped on a taxi to rush to the scene. Wary of the clashes, the cab driver would only go as near as Sai Ying Pun, so Lui, then 45, ran more than 2km to reach the area.

Petite and soft-spoken, she is neither a natural leader nor a seasoned activist. But with a sudden surge of courage, she hollered upon her arrival, gathering the scattered protesters to form a line of defence. When police neared, Lui held her breath and walked into the clouds of tear gas, dragging out the collapsed protesters.

Many were appalled by the police's use of force against young, unarmed protesters, but it was particularly perturbing for her. "As a patient assistant, I often witness death in medical wards. It makes you realise how fragile life is," said Lui, who camped out beside the government complex for the next 79 days, throughout the Occupy Central movement.

Five years later, she once again found herself on Harcourt Road amid tear gas. As panicking protesters fled towards Central on the evening of June 12, she deliberately fell behind, picking up those who had tripped in the chaos.

"Most of my peers have families of their own, so they assume I can go out and protest because I have no family burden and can afford to be reckless. But that's not true," said Lui, who is single. "I do it because I believe that is right and trust that God will watch over me."

She is not the only one that has come in faith. One of the defining features of the anti-extradition bill movement is the visible presence of Christians and Catholics. It is evidenced by the constant chorus of Sing Hallelujah to the Lord, a song so ubiquitous that it has become an unlikely anthem for the protest.

There are no exact figures on the number of Christians that have joined. Similar to the movement itself, many of these gatherings are not organised. Many simply show up, expecting others to be present.

Throughout the week, several hundred gathered each night to sing at the Legislative Council complex, turning it into a makeshift church with crosses taped on the pillars. Pragmatically, faith is a useful device for defusing tension, so Christians placed themselves between police and protesters during the stand-off. Later, it provided a cover of legitimacy, as religious gatherings do not require a permit for public meetings under the Public Order Ordinance.

But for the believers, they came to worship and pray.

Some, such as Sunny Wong Hoi-ching, are taking part in a social movement for the first time. "It felt like my world was being shaken and I had this deep sense of sorrow," said the 20-year-old university student, who was roused by footage of clashes on June 12. She has been out protesting ever since, not with chants of slogans but with hymns, joined by other Christians she has met on the streets.

Lui also noticed that her fellow church-goers, who in the past steered clear of politics, have also become concerned; some took to the streets for the first time. She likened this political awakening to a conversion to Christianity. "They both require that moment of epiphany and a change of heart, and cannot be forced."

Pastoe David Cheung (left, beside the guitar) joins protesters watching the live broadcast of Chief Executive Carrie Lam's press conference. Photo: Rachel Cheung

On the afternoon of June 18, Wong and dozens of protesters huddled in a circle around an iPad, watching the live broadcast of Chief Executive Carrie Lam's press conference, where she offered yet another apology but stopped short of withdrawing the bill or meeting any demands.

Sitting among them was David Cheung, the pastor of Narrow Church at Ngau Tau Kok. Easily identified by his clerical collar and uniform, he took to the podium for prayer before and after Lam's address.

Besides ad hoc gatherings of ordinary Christians, Cheung and a group of church leaders have also been on the front lines of the protest every day, opposing the bill while offering spiritual support to demonstrators.

Reverend Joseph Ha Chi-shing, the auxiliary bishop of the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong, also spent several evenings at the legislature to keep protesters company, staying up till midnight. "Wherever the flock goes, the shepherd should be there. The shepherd leads them and understands their pain," he told them.

One explanation for the church's active involvement is that the amendments to the extradition bill " which would allow the city to transfer fugitives to other jurisdictions including mainland China " potentially threaten religious freedom in Hong Kong. "It hangs above our neck like an invisible knife. Who wouldn't be afraid?" said Ha at a public prayer meeting.

But the bigger reason can be traced back to the Occupy Central movement in 2014.

Many Christians were involved. In fact, key leaders " Benny Tai Yiu-ting, a Christian; Chu Yiu-ming, a reverend; Chan Kin-man, who has left the church but remained with God; and Joshua Wong, a student activist and second-generation Christian " all came from a spiritual background and have explained how their Christian faith has driven their pursuit for social justice.

Sunny Wong Hoi-ching joins protesters in worship at the Legislative Council. Photo: Rachel Cheung

Most frequently quoted is the Book of Micah, where it says: "And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Yet within the church, the congregation " similar to the rest of the society " was divided along generational lines. Many conservative churches condemned the movement for destroying the city's peace and stability, while others dared not comment, worrying that taking an overt political stance could irk the Chinese authorities and jeopardise their ministries in mainland China, which have taken years to build.

"The church is such a big institution that often it has become part of the establishment," said Cheung the pastor. Occupy leader Chan has also spoken out against the cosy relationship between mainstream churches and the authorities.

A warning bell rang when many young people walked away from the church, sensing an unbridgeable divide in values and beliefs. "The church realises it's losing relevance and unless we are able to walk with them, we risk losing this entire generation," Cheung said.

As a result, many churches have reconsidered their roles in society and, more specifically, how they can respond to society's needs " including physical ones. Our interview at the legislature was interrupted by the announcement that a church had just dropped off lunchboxes and cold drinks. "Thank you to Jesus!" someone in the crowd shouted. Another handed Cheung a can of Ribena.

"While older leaders are often reluctant to be openly critical of the government, younger pastors care more and are willing to voice their opposition," he said. An exception should be made for the retired cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who called the Chief Executive, also a Catholic, "a deaf and blind sister that should no longer lead the family".

The co-founders of Occupy Central, from left: Chan Kin-man, Benny Tai Yiu-ting, and Chu Yiu-ming. Photo: Dickson Lee

Others took softer approaches, praying that God himself would speak to Lam and touch the conscience of those in power. "If this continues, Hong Kong would lose. It's not us versus the government. We are in the same boat," said auxiliary bishop Ha. In response to Lam's apology, some believers pointed out that repentance does not exist only in words, but requires action and commitment.

The leaders of six major religions called on the public to accept her apology, return to their routines and restore order in society. However, Cardinal John Tong Hon, the apostolic administrator of Hong Kong, and Reverend Eric So Shing-yit, chairman of the Hong Kong Christian Council, later jointly issued a separate and much stronger statement explicitly urging Lam to withdraw the bill and set up an inquiry into police conduct.

"The Chief Executive often emphasises respecting the system. An independent inquiry is a kind of system," Ha said.

Said Dr John Chan Wai-on, assistant professor of Theology at the Alliance Bible Seminary: "The community began addressing the relationship between the church and politics five years ago, so they are more prepared to respond this time, knowing what they could not do " but also, what they should do." Some churches called for emergency prayer meetings, while others opened their doors to protesters seeking refuge.

Reverend Peter Choy Wai-man (left) and auxiliary bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing at the legislature. Photo: Rachel Cheung

While some believers tend to use Romans 13 " a passage on submission to the governing authorities " as a biblical basis against protest and civil disobedience, Chan explains that this submission is not unconditional and is based on the assumption of a responsible government. In this particular case, he said: "We are not going up against the government. We are opposing a bill, which would put not just wrongdoers but also people doing good in fear."

Chan established the Flow Church last year, catering to those who are keen to follow Jesus but are uncomfortable with the culture of traditional churches. He said 80 per cent of the Christian community was against the extradition bill and many took action to be part of the resistance.

"We choose goodness in the face of evil, persisting in peaceful resistance," Chan said. "Faith is powerful, especially in times of utter despair, providing a source of strength and hope."

He believed that prayers and hymns as a means of protest are not just possible, they are accepted by the rest of the movement, including unbelievers, because civil society has matured. Unlike the Occupy Central movement, in which rifts existed between protesters from different parties who favoured different methods, Chan said this round saw unity and a general consensus that for the sake of a common goal, protesters would not point fingers at each other.

The effect has been pronounced. On an online forum, users declared they would never refer to Christians with a Cantonese derogatory term again. Others say they could not get Sing Hallelujah to the Lord out of their head. One admits: "It is a stronger weapon than tear gas."

This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

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