Update | Hong Kong Christians 'harassed' by mainland's Church of Almighty God

Chan Kang-kwong lived a quiet life with his wife in Tuen Mun before she encountered the Church of Almighty God, which is branded as an “evil cult” and banned by the mainland government.

As his wife became more involved in the church, also known as Lightning of the East and which has one million followers on the mainland, Chan became more worried.

“She was addicted to the heresy of the Church of Almighty God,” said Chan, 55, who works at a financial company. “It was very serious. Her conversion influenced me a lot. I couldn’t sleep for a whole week at that time. And our relationship was very bad.”

Mainland immigrants brought the church to Hong Kong about 10 years ago, and there has been a push costing millions of dollars to expand the church beyond its 2,000 followers here, said Kevin Yeung Tze-chung, general secretary of the Concern Group on Newly Emerged Religions, who has been studying the sect since 2008. He said the source of the money was unknown.

The Church of Almighty God’s “belief is antisocial and destroys the value of family”, Yeung said, adding that the sect denies the value of love, care and tolerance, but keeps indoctrinating its followers with its second-coming story.

He estimates that 200 Christians in Hong Kong have been harassed and “mentally hurt” by the sect.

Saleswoman Leung Fung-tai, 50, of Tin Shui Wai, said she had been a target of the sect and was dragged to a Bible study group by an acquaintance.