Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun said the lack of a directly elected legislature had prevented the views of the public from being fairly represented and heard, as shown by Legco's scrutiny of laws to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Bishop Zen said the present political system had undermined the power of Legco to represent public opinion.

'The political system is preventing people from doing anything. Just look at Legco, there is no way they can protect the rights of the people,' the bishop said.

Asked whether he supported demands being pushed by pro-democracy activists for the chief executive and the entire Legco to be elected by universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008, Bishop Zen said he did.

'I think people in Hong Kong deserve it. They are sophisticated and well educated. We can make that happen, with the efforts by all of us,' he said.

His comments mark the first time that a head of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong has pledged support for the introduction of universal suffrage.

Democracy and public participation in government and public affairs have long been valued in the church's social teaching - even if its critics have argued that those values are not so welcomed in the church itself.

In their past encyclical letters, both Pope Paul VI and the present Pope John Paul II have called for democratic systems to give people the choice to elect and remove their governments to prevent the ruling elite monopolising power for their individual gains.

Under the Basic Law, the present method of selecting the chief executive by an 800-member election committee and returning half of the 60-seat Legco by trade-based functional constituencies can be changed after 2007. The government has said a public consultation will be carried out as early as next year.

Bishop Zen said the lack of democracy had resulted in the lack of public input to the bill to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law, which tackles treason and subversion. The bishop said the only way people could oppose the bill was to 'keep protesting' after its expected passage on July 9.

'It is very sad that something so absurd can happen in Hong Kong. How can we swallow it? I'd like more people to become angry and to speak like me,' he said.

'We can pray or maybe fast, but what more can the church do?'

Bishop Zen said he did not foresee activists or church members waging civil disobedience against the bill in the near future.

'You have to have an opportunity before you can use civil disobedience. You have to wait and see how Article 23 is used. But if the Security Bureau shuts down the church, then I would opt for civil disobedience and they can arrest me,' he said.

Discussion points

- Should the government intervene in the

- Are you mentally ready to vote for Hong Kong's chief executive and legislators? How about your family and your friends?

- Do you support universal suffrage in the 2007 chief executive and 2008 Legislative Council elections? Explain.

- Do you choose your student representatives for the school or extra-curricular activities? What are the voting rates in the elections?

- What can be done to improve students' sense of participation? Can you draft a plan for the coming academic year to achieve this?

Vocabulary

universal suffrage (n)

'suffrage' is a vote to decide on controversial issues. The right of suffrage is both a privilege and a civic duty.

'Universal suffrage' is seen as a vital element in a democratic system. It means almost all adults have the right to vote in a national election

scrutiny (n)

close examination and critical observation

to prevent (v)

to keep from happening. Remember, the preposition 'from' should be used after 'prevent'. Therefore, it is prevent + from + -ing. Do not use the infinitive to after 'prevent'.

to pledge (v)

to promise solemnly and formally

Example: Several have pledged large sums of money to house the [stray] cats in pet farms. (SCMP, June 17, 2003)

encyclical letter (n)

as an adjective, 'encyclical' is used to describe things intended for wide distribution. But an 'encyclical letter' specifically means a letter from the Pope sent to all Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world

absurd (adj)

foolish and ridiculous