The social role of Catholics in Hong Kong society

Hong Kong is experiencing significant social and political changes. The Cat holic Church in Hong Kong is reorienting its social role, particularly as c oncerns its prophetic role in society and its relationship with the Sociali st Chinese government, which has just resumed sovereignty after over 150 ye ars of British rule. The Catholic Church has been an important contributor to the provision of education and social services but it was much less invo lved in social and political action. Hong Kong people are now learning slow ly to publicly express their opinions. They are also learning to live with pluralism in moral and political principles. The Catholic Church is undergo ing the same difficult learning process. It will be interesting to see how the Church can break new ground in its search for a new social role in pres ent-day Hong Kong.