Don't Rush The Fugitive Law, Says Catholic Diocese

The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, which counts Chief Executive Carrie Lam as one of its members, on Tuesday called on the government not to rush through the controversial extradition bill.

A statement published on the diocese's website said the government should not pass the bill "hurriedly before adequately addressing the queries and worries of the legal sector and of the general public".

In the brief statement, the church asked both the government and the general public to exercise restraint and seek a solution through peaceful and legal means.

This is the second time the Catholic Diocese has weighed in. Last month, the interim head of the diocese, Cardinal John Tong, released an open letter warning that the government proposal is “threatening the local community and tearing it apart”.

Lam is a devout Catholic and said she was answering God's call when she decided to run for the city's top job in 2017.

A number of other religious congregations have also voiced opposition to the extradition proposal.

Patrick So, senior pastor of Yan Fook Church, a pro-government group with a mass following, warned the government against rushing through the bill. Hundreds of faithful held a mass prayer session outside the government's headquarters on Monday night, urging the administration to withdraw the bill.