Hong Kong Churches Prepare for Potential Religious Crackdowns

While Beijing has not yet clamped down on religion in the city, three churches are preparing for what many believe is an inevitable restriction on religious freedom. As Hong Kong's political landscape continues to shift under Beijing's influence, Christian congregations are quietly developing contingency plans to preserve their ministries in an increasingly uncertain environment.

Churches Self-Censor as Political Space Shrinks

Religious leaders across Hong Kong report a growing atmosphere of caution following the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020. So far, the national security law has focused only on politics, not religion. Yet many are preparing for the day when restrictions may be placed on how and where they worship, much like in mainland China.

According to 18 pastors and religious experts interviewed by The Washington Post, churches have been pushed into censoring themselves and avoiding appointing pastors deemed to have political views, while some congregations have restructured operations to protect their assets from potential government seizure.

The change represents a dramatic shift from the 2019 pro-democracy protests, when churches served as gathering places for activists and provided sanctuary for demonstrators.

Three Strategic Approaches Emerge

Flow Church: Flexible Adaptation

Flow Church in Tsim Sha Tsui has adopted what Pastor John Chan calls a "malleable approach." Chan believes that Hong Kong churches are within a 10-year grace period before the government imposes any significant changes and has prepared his congregation accordingly.

The church has made deliberate decisions to avoid keeping member databases and accepts that their current structure may not survive long-term. "We don't expect Flow to have a long future," Chan said. "The church is an event, a happening. We will focus on our lives."

The Vine: Decentralized Network Strategy

The Vine church is pursuing a different approach by planning to plant smaller, community-specific churches rather than maintaining one large central location. This strategy aims to create a more resilient network that could better withstand potential government restrictions.

IECC: Investment in Infrastructure

In contrast, Island Evangelical Community Church (IECC) is investing in expensive new church buildings, betting on continued stability despite the political changes.

Religious Freedom Under Pressure

Freedom of worship is still intact – religious believers can still go to church, to the mosque, temple or synagogue, and they can still access their holy scriptures. But freedom of religion or belief in its fullest form is being eroded.

The erosion manifests in several ways:

• Increased self-censorship in sermons
• Reluctance to discuss social justice issues
• Pressure to demonstrate patriotism and support for Beijing
• Concerns about potential "Sinicization" of religious practices

International Attention and Government Response

The U.S. State Department has taken notice of the deteriorating situation, downgrading the city's rating "due to evidence that the broader crackdown on dissent has prompted some churches to self-censor sermons and curtail other religious activities".

Hong Kong authorities have rejected these assessments, with the government saying on Saturday that they "rejected the slandering remarks" in the US State Department's Report on International Religious Freedom.

Looking Ahead: Uncertain Future

While religious worship continues openly in Hong Kong, church leaders are increasingly concerned about their long-term prospects. Both the National Security Law (NSL) and Article 23 raise grave concerns for Catholics, as Beijing might see communion with the Pope as "collusion with foreign forces."

The situation has prompted many religious leaders to adopt what one pastor described as a biblical approach: being "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" while navigating the changing political landscape.

As Hong Kong's churches prepare for an uncertain future, their strategies reflect both hope for continued freedom and realistic preparation for potentially significant restrictions on religious practice. The coming years will test whether these preparations prove necessary or if religious liberty can be preserved in the territory's evolving political environment.