Carrie Lam apologises for ‘misunderstanding’ on proposed religious affairs unit
The former chief secretary said she would not pursue the idea of setting up a religious affairs unit under the Home Affairs Bureau if she is elected
Chief executive candidate Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has apologised for causing a misunderstanding over the city’s religious freedom after backtracking on a proposal to set up a religious affairs unit in the government.
“The original purpose [of the proposal] was solely to support the activities and development of the religious sector. Unfortunately, this has lead to some misunderstanding, especially from some religious institutions who were concerned that it meant the government had changed its policy on religious freedom,” Lam said in a video posted on her Facebook page on Saturday night.
“To this end, I have immediately made a clarification ... to apologise to everyone,” Lam said.
The former chief secretary clarified that she would not pursue the idea of setting up a religious affairs unit under the Home Affairs Bureau or commence any studies within the government if she was elected.
Lam’s apology came after the city’s top bishop Cardinal John Tong Hon urged her to remove the idea from her manifesto as it could give people the impression that the government was directing and controlling religions, and could lead to unnecessary confusion and conflict in society.
Lam, who is a devout Catholic, said that she had written to Tong to clarify her position and explain her decision.