HONG KONG, March 15 — The Catholic Church in Hong Kong said today that confessions by devotees to priests would remain confidential under the city’s upcoming national security...
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Hong Kong is fast-tracking a homegrown national security law, following the one Beijing imposed in 2020 after quashing huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests. The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong said in a statement Friday that it “recognises that citizens have an obligation to ensure national security”.But the security law “will not alter the confidential nature of Confession”, the diocese added.
UK-based activist group Hong Kong Watch earlier said the offence “directly threatens religious freedom” as it would force priests to reveal what was said in the confessional booth against their conscience.The former British colony is a common law jurisdiction and has a legal system distinct from mainland China.