Blind Justice?

A letter from Judy Chan, serving in Hong Kong

August 2017

On August 17, three young Hong Kong student protest leaders were sent to jail with terms ranging from six to eight months. Nathan Law, Joshua Wong, and Alex Chow had been given community service or a suspended sentence last year for their part in the 2014 pro-democracy demonstrations known as the “Occupy/Umbrella Movement.” However, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen asked the Hong Kong Court of Appeal to review the earlier sentences, stating that the students’ actions in storming the government headquarters compound and inciting others to join them warranted a harsher punishment. This time, the Court agreed and ordered custodial sentences for all three young men. The activists indicated they would take their cases to Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal.

Hong Kong democracy leaders jailed. (Photo courtesy WikiCommons)

The prison sentence also meant that the three will be disqualified from running for a seat in the Legislative Council for five years. Law, age 24, had been elected last year as the youngest legislator in Hong Kong history. However, he was stripped of his seat last month due to improper oath-taking. Wong, age 20, has received international attention in the press for his political activism. Chow, age 27, was former head of the Hong Kong Federation of Students.

As with everything in Hong Kong, public reaction was heated and mixed. On one hand, 20,000 protesters took to the streets on August 20 to demand justice for the three students and their immediate release. On the other hand, some said that while the prison terms were unfortunate, the young offenders must take responsibility for their illegal actions and face the consequences for breaking the law and endangering the welfare of others. The government and legal bodies reiterated that the decision was carried out fairly through the court system and under the rule of law. Still, the goodwill gestures of the judge from the earlier court sentences have now been cancelled. Tensions between the government and the pro-democracy forces, including many students and youth, are running high. The road to reconciliation in this highly polarized community will be long and hard.

When asked how churches should pray for Hong Kong at this time, Rev. Po Kam-cheong, General Secretary of the Hong Kong Christian Council, responded:

• Pray that the people in the whole society have courage to face these difficult situations.
• Pray for kindness and a reasonable response from all parties under pressure, foregoing violence as a means to fight for the betterment of the society.
• Pray that churches can formulate a vision for Hong Kong’s future from a Christian perspective of justice, mercy, peace and compassion for all people.

In times like these, the famous words of the Serenity Prayer attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr also come to mind. I heard them quoted by a young doctor in a worship service at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1997 return of sovereignty of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China. Whether she meant them as a political statement or not, the words moved me deeply: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” Indeed, O Lord, give us your peace, courage and wisdom in these troubled times.

In closing, may I take this opportunity to thank you for your prayers and financial support for our work at the Hong Kong Christian Council through Presbyterian World Mission. As the worldwide body of Jesus Christ, let faith, hope and love be the watchwords of our blessed common life together.

In Christ,
Judy Chan

Please read this important message from Jose Luis Casal, Director, Presbyterian World Mission

Dear Friend of Presbyterian Mission,

What a joy to send this letter! As Presbyterian World Mission’s new director, I thank God for your faithful support of our mission co-workers. The enclosed newsletter celebrates the work you made possible by your prayers, engagement, and generous financial gifts. We can’t thank you enough.

After I began in April, I met with mission co-workers and global partners and was blessed to see firsthand the mighty ways God is working through them! Our global partners are asking us to help them move forward with life-changing ministries. Because of your support, we can say “yes” to these creative and exciting initiatives.

I write to invite you to make an even deeper commitment to this work. First, would you make a year-end gift for the sending and support of our mission co-workers? We need your gifts to end the year strong. With your help, we filled two new mission co-worker positions and plan to recruit for others. The needs in the world are great, and World Mission is poised to answer the call to serve.

Second, would you ask your session to add our mission co-workers to your congregation’s mission budget for 2018 and beyond? Our mission co-workers serve three-year or four-year terms. Your multi-year commitment will encourage them greatly.

Our mission co-workers are funded entirely from the special gifts of individuals and congregations like yours. Now more than ever, we need your financial support.

In faith, our mission co-workers accepted a call to mission service. In faith, World Mission sent them to work with our global partners. In faith, will you also commit to support this work with your prayers and financial gifts?

With gratitude,
Jose Luis Casal
Director

P.S. Your gift will help meet critical needs of our global partners. Thank you!