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Ambrose Leung

The public should uphold justice and peace and share the fruits of economic development with all in society, Christian leaders said in their Christmas messages.

In his Christmas pastoral letter, Catholic Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun said Hong Kong was in 'dire need' of peace because many people were tempted by greed for wealth and power.

'We have had so many controversies and violent confrontations in our midst,' the bishop said. The secret to achieving peace was to stand up for the truth.

'We may object that it is precisely because we insist on our truth that there is disagreement. If we put aside the problem of truth, is it not easier to live in peace? But if we renounce truth, then there is only personal opinion,' he said.

He urged the public to keep to the truth of universal brotherhood and live by it and there would be lasting peace.

'Not just giving alms, like scraps from the table, but letting everybody sit at the table and share the fruit of the common effort,' he said.

The bishop, who has taken a strong stance in pushing for universal suffrage, and been openly criticised by senior officials, said he only joined the defence of human rights because everybody - not only the 'rich and powerful' - should have a say in public affairs under a democratic society.

In his swan-song Christmas message, Anglican Archbishop Peter Kwong Kong-kit,   who will retire on January 1 after more than 25 years of service, urged the public to 'turn back' from their selfishness and address the widening gap between rich and poor.

'The resources of the society cannot be evenly distributed among all. We must not ignore this,' he said.

'We should consider the justice of the society and our own level of contribution ... The success of our people depends on how much they can contribute to the society and not how much one can squeeze out of society and earmark as their own.'

Saying the relations between employers and workers were 'worse than in slave systems', the archbishop said it was no wonder people were unhappy because they found it hard to contribute and make full use of their talents.

'The most feared activities now are not wars, but rather commercial struggles and the [economic] destruction  ... They kill without blood and it is difficult to nail the culprits.'



Share our abundance and strive for peace, urge Christian leaders