ASIA/HONG KONG - There are currently 350,000 Catholics in Hong Kong, compared to the 239,000 in 1997

Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - “The current number of Catholics in Hong Kong is now close to 350,000.” This is what Monsignor Domenico Chan, Vicar General of the Diocese of Hong Kong, told Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese language version of the diocesan bulletin). This past Easter, 2,700 people were baptized in this diocese alone. In the last 10 years, an average of 4,000 people are baptized every year. Among them are adults, children, and newborns. Although many Catholics have immigrated to other countries or have passed away, the number of Catholics in the Diocese of Hong Kong is today close to 350,000, not counting the Filipino immigrants who are another 100,000. In 1997, the year Hong Kong returned to China, the Catholics were 239,000; reaching 248,000 in 2007. According to Msgr. Chan, the increase of Catholics in Hong Kong “is very encouraging, but it is also a challenge for the future.” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 8/4/2008; righe 11, parole 151)