HONG KONG (UCAN) -- About 200 local clergy and lay Christians attended a prayer rally Jan. 13 before joining thousands protesting the central government's decision not to implement universal suffrage for Hong Kong in 2012.

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong, who turned 76 that day, told the prayer rally he "regretted and was angry" that Beijing ignored the aspirations of Hong Kong people. "Don't we have the right to express our pain after being slapped in the face?" he asked.

The prelate also doubted that the elections for chief executive in 2017 and all members of the Legislative Council in 2020 would be done in a truly democratic manner. "We hope for respect and dialogue. We will hold onto our stance (for universal suffrage in 2012) right to the end and believe in the power of prayer," he added.

The diocese's Justice and Peace Commission (JPC), the Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affairs (CLA) and five Protestant social-concern groups hosted the prayer session at Victoria Park, starting point of the mass rally.

This first major protest after the central government delayed the introduction of full democracy in the territory was organized by the Civil Human Rights Front and pro-democracy legislators. They called it Persisting with Dual Universal Suffrage in 2012, No Fake Democracy in 2017. Both JPC and CLA are among the 52 members of the Civil Human Rights Front.

The organizers called the rally to protest the decision that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) made on Dec. 29 ruling out universal suffrage in the 2012 elections for Hong Kong's chief executive and all members of its legislature. However, it said the election of the fifth chief executive in 2017 might be under universal suffrage.

Reverend Ralph Lee Ting-sun, secretary general of Hong Kong Christian Council, told the prayer gathering he hoped a more democratic election could produce a more responsible government.

Christians will not give up and keep silent, because Hong Kong people have been striving for universal suffrage for 20 years and "we can no longer wait for another 10 years," said Reverend Lee, 66, president of the Hong Kong Methodist Church.

After praying and singing hymns, the Christians, carrying a large banner that read "Fight for Democracy, Live out Faith" and placards with various slogans, joined the march to government headquarters in Hong Kong's Central district. Cardinal Zen, Reverend Lee and some elderly people took the lead in the march, which lasted about three hours.

Cardinal Zen, whose knees have given him pain recently, marched for about 1.5 hours before leaving to preside at an evening Mass.

Organizers said 22,000 people took part, while police said 6,800 gathered at the starting point.

Some Catholic participants who attended the prayer rally and march spoke with UCA News about their hopes for universal suffrage.

Mary Yuen Mee-yin, JPC vice-president, said that although the NPC had already decided on the matter, "we should not give up easily, otherwise the central government will no longer respect Hong Kong people's right to vote and might delay the process of democracy."

She added: "We have been fighting for universal suffrage since the 1980s. Who dares to say Hong Kong people are not mature enough for the 'one person, one vote' system?"

Assunta Leung and several parishioners of St. Bonaventure's Church joined the prayer and march. "Through prayers, God will show us the right direction," she said, adding that Beijing should be confident that Hong Kong people are mature enough to choose their chief executive by examining candidates' platforms and achievements.

Laywoman Leung Kwai-chen, 70, said: "I don't know if I will be able to experience universal suffrage in my remaining years. I can't wait until 2017!"

However, some Catholics, who did not participate in the protest, were less concerned by the time element.

Lee Ling-po, a catechist, said the objective of the march organizers was unclear. "It is less important whether universal suffrage is to be implemented in 2012 or 2017. What we need is a truly democratic and well-defined system of election," he stressed.

Rosa Tong, 30, hoped the local government could spend the coming decade educating people on how to select the chief executive and legislators according to the Basic Law, the mini-constitution governing Hong Kong after 1997, when the former British colony reverted to China.

The general public knows very little about details such as candidates' qualifications, and nomination and selection procedures, she said.

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(Accompanying photos available at here)