Nationalism and religious protest: The case of the national day celebration service controversy in the Hong Kong protestant churches

Religion, State and Society

Volumn 28, Issue 4, 2000, Pages 359-383

  Chan, Shun Hing ^a  

^a NONE

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 84937321802     PISSN: 09637494     EISSN: 14653974     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/713694774     Document Type: Note

References (76)

1. Wai, Wu Chi. 1996. Huigui lushang jingji mantu' ('A thorny road to reunification'). Christian Times, 7 July: 8
2. Mi, Yuen. 1996. Guojiari fenbo' ('The National Day controversy'). Christian Times, 30 June: 2
3. Wai, Chan Ka. 1996. Jiaohui haoxin zuo huaishi?' ('Evil results from good intentions of the church?'). Christian Times, 29 September: 9
4. Cheung, Ho Man. 1996. "Huigui lushang" jiaomu tonggong yantaohui huogan' ('Reflections on the "Road to Reunification Forum for Clergy'"). Christian Times, 9 June: 8
5. Fai Lerry, Luk. 1996. Huigui lushang de qige kunhuo yu jueze' ('Seven dilemmas and options on the road to reunification'). Christian Times, 23 June: 8
6. 1996. "Jidujiao Juan chouzhu guoqing qude liangjie" ('The Christian community reaches understanding concerning National Day celebrations'). Hong Kong Economic Journal, 1 July Lo Lung Kwong said he was surprised to find that most opposition came from the frontline Christian groups that he had been so familiar with. See
7. Jiaohui taolun ban guoqing huodong: Yu Daxin shuo nai "huiying" Xinhuashe' ('The church holds talks over National Day celebrations: Carver Yu says proposed service is in response to NCNA's request"). Ming Pao Daily, 18 June 1996
8. Source: Cheung Yuk Wan et al. "Jiaohui guoqing …'
9. Cheung, Lo Ping. 1996. "Shiyi de shuangchong hanyi" ("The twofold implications of 1 October"). Christian Times, 21 July: 7
10. Seng, Kang Phee. 1996. "Huiqui lishang de jiji yu weiji" ("To be or not to be on the road to reunification"). Christian Times, 28 July: 8
11. Fung Lerry, Raymond. 1996. "Business as usual". Christian Times, 9 August: 10
12. Fung Lerry, Raymond. 1996. "Yichang gaodu gongming de xi" ('A highly symphonic show'). Christian Times, 7 July: 10
13. Heng, Ng Kwai. 1996. "Dui jidujiao zifa chouzu guoqing huodong de fansi" ("Reflections on the National Day celebration incident of the Christian community'). Hong Kong Economic Journal, 25 June
14. Lun, Lau Sin. 1996. "Ping jidujiao guoqing bianlun' ('Comments on the Christian National Day celebration debate'). Sing Tao Daily, 19 August
15. Ng Kwai Heng. "Dui jidujiao …'
16. Lau Siu Lun. "Ping jidujiao …'
17. Feuchtwang, Stephen. "Local religion and village identity" ”. In Unity and Diversity: Local Cultures and Identity in China, Edited by: Liu, Tao Tao, and Faure, David. 6161–76. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. This is particularly relevant to a topic on which sociological studies have recently focused, namely the relationship between religion and identity in the context of contemporary China and Taiwan, See
18. Sangren, Paul Steven. 1998. Renleixue yu taiwan de rentong zhengzhi: lun defang zongjiao de yingxiang' ('Anthropology and identity politics in Taiwan: review of the impact of local religion"). Hong Kong Social Science Journal,: 41–72.
19. Luk Fai Lerry for example, said_ "The church is basically a unity in diversity, just as a body has different parts that are gifted in different ways. Therefore it is normal to have different opinions within the church. … Christians should constantly pray that the Christian community will witness the love of Christ in unity.' Luk Fai. "Huigui lushang. …" Kung Lap Yan wrote: "From one point of view, the wounds inflicted by the 4 June Incident have yet to be healed. But. more fundamentally, what does the nature of the church have to do with National Day celebrations? From a strategic point of view, this may not be conducive to agreement within the church. Instead we should engage in more discussions and do more analyses. We should learn to listen to and show respect and appreciation for the views of others, so that we will always bear in mind the spirit of unity in diversity." See Kung Lap Yan. "Jidutu chouban. …" Leung Wai Fung wrote: "May I make a suggestion to the sponsors: maybe you should wait, since most lay members and clergy are not yet ready for this. You should not therefore insist on going your own way, because most important of all, you should match the pace of your fellow believers for the sake of unity.' Leung Wai Fung. 'Woshizhongguo …'
20. Hart, Stephen. The cultural dimension of social movements: a theoretical reassessment and literature review'. Sociology of Religion, 57 (1) 199687–100. Stephen Hart has indicated that the cultural code has an extremely significant impact on social movements, and points to the close interrelatedness between American religions and the political culture of local social movements. A question relating to the Calhoun theory is implicit here: does the solidarity of a civil society require more subtle cultural ideas than rational-critical discourses as the foundation for social movements? See
21. Fung, Raymond. 1996. Weishenmo zai jiulin' ('Why in 1996'). Christian Times, 23 June: 10 The NCNA would invite various groups to hold celebrations every year on 1 October, the National Day of the People's Republic of China. Since 1995 a National Celebration Committee of Religious Groups (Zongjiaojie renshi guoqing chouweihui) has been in existence, involving the six major religions in Hong Kong (Protestants. Catholics. Buddhists. Taoists, Confucians and Muslims). Some church members have been disturbed by the NCNA's gesture in June 1995 inviting Christian leaders to take up roles in organising National Day celebrations among religious groups. Raymond Fung, one of the sponsors, explained the rationale of the proposed service as follows: 'If we do not hold it this year … it is very possible that the official approach will dominate future celebrations and the churches and Christians will lose the initiative because they fail to reach an agreement among themselves. … It is very likely that the schools will be celebrating the National Day next year and there will not be any exception for Christian schools. I do not know who will give the instructions, but in the absence of any other acceptable alternative approaches, the schools will be obliged to follow the official approach. If we contemplate our own approach in 1996. there will be a chance for the staff and students of church schools to participate.' See
22. Ha, Ng Lai. 1996. Zixing chouban guoqing, jiaomu yijian fenyurn' ('Clergy divided over Christian National Day celebrations'). Christian Times, 2 June: 1–2. Church leaders who expressed their views in the forum include Luk Fai (Church of Christ in China). Lo Lung Kwong, Li Ping Kwong (both United Methodist). Carver Yu (China Graduate School of Theology). Lo Cho Ching (Tsung Tsin Mission) and Lee Kam Hung (Christian Times). Philemon Choi (Breakthrough Limited) was absent. See
23. Yu, Carver. 1996. Jiaomu chouban guoqing de benyi yu wuhui' ('The original intentions of proposing the National Day celebration and subsequent misunderstandings'). Ming Pao Daily, 27 June Carver Yu Lerry another sponsor, said_ 'While agreeing that the church should celebrate the National Day, [clergy] believe that celebrations held by civic groups should not be manipulated by the Party or the government, in such a way that they become occasions for singing the praises of the ruling regime. … The clergy's "reaction" is to propose alternative National Day celebrations. We are going to raise our cups to God, not Chinese officials. We will offer confession, thanksgiving, intercession and commitment in a priestly capacity.'
24. Wan, Cheung Yuk. 1996. Gaodiao yunniang, didiao jinxing: shouci "shiyi" gaojiari chongbai yu yibaiershu ren canjia' ('Low-profile launch against high-profile preparations: the I October National Day service attended by over 120 people'). Christian Times, 6 October: 1
25. 1997. Gaojiari chongbai jin sanshi ren canjia' ('National Day service attended by about 30 people'). Christian Times, 12 October: 2
26. Ling, Li Wai. 1996. Fagi guoqing huigui lianchuan huodong: Lu Longguang buyuen zuo tuoniao' ('Lo calls for National Day and reunification celebrations and refuses to be evasionist'). Ming Pao Daily, 8 May: 1
27. guoqing, Qingzhu. 1996. 'Celebrating the National Day') written on top of the cross. Two Christians. standing beneath the cross with hands in a praying posture, look perplexed. Ming Pao Daily, 8 May: 2 Zunzi, a local cartoonist famous for his political caricatures, expressed his disapproval of the proposed service on the same day that the news was reported with a cartoon depicting a crucified Christ dressed in a Dr Sun Yat-sen suit, with the Chinese characters
28. Fung, Raymond. 1996. Chang "tianyou nuwang" lai aiquo?' ('Expressing patriotism by singing "God save our Queen'"). Christian Times, 7 April: 10
29. Tsang, Ying Fuk. 1996. Gaoqing geiwo de tiaozhan' ('My National Day challenge'). Christian Times, 30 June: 8
30. 1996. Jidujiao dui yingfou choubei guoqing yijian fengi' ('Christians divided over National Day celebrations'). Hong Kong Economic Journal, 24 May
31. 1996. Jiaohui niban shiyi guqing huodong' ('The church has plans for celebrating the National Day on 1 October'). Ming Pao Daily, 25 May
32. Ming, Cf. Yu. 1996. Jiaohui yingfou qingzhu guoqing qi zhengyi' ('Dispute on National Day celebrations for the church'). Ming Pao Daily, 28 May
33. Wang, Mau Chi. 1996. Moxing zhishou zheng ganyu Xianggang jiaohui' ('The invisible hand is over the Hong Kong church'). Sing Tao Daily, 30 May
34. Ming, Yu. 1996. Jidujiao guoqing huodong jidiao' ('The basic theme of Christian national celebrations'). Ming Pao Daily, 10 June
35. Yin, Yu Kam. 1996. Jiaohui qingzhu guoqing fengbo yunao yuda' ('The Christian National Day celebration controversy becomes increasingly contentious'). Hong Kong Economic Journal, 29 May
36. Kwong, Lo Lung. 1996. Chengqing "Xianggang maibo" de piping' ('Clarifications in response to the comments of "Pulse of Hong Kong"'). Hong Kong Economic Journal, 1 June
37. 1996. Banshu jidutu fandui jinnian ban guoqing juhui' ('Half the Christian community against holding National Day celebrations this year'). Ming Pao Daily, 1 June
38. Lau, Fan Chung. 1996. Jidu jiaohui congrong ban guoqing' ('The church to hold National Day celebrations in concurrence with popular trends'). Hong Kong Economic Journal, 7 June
39. Fung Lerry, Raymond. 1996. Daibiao zhongguo xiang shangzhu jubei' ('Raising the cup of thanksgiving to God on behalf of China'). Ming Pao Daily, 8 June
40. Yeung Lerry, Arnold. 1996. Bei tonzhan de weiji' ('The danger of being subject to the united front tactic'). Ming Pao Daily, 8 June
41. Rankin, Mary B., 1990. The origins of a Chinese public sphere'. Etudes Chinoises, 9 Autumn: 1–60.
42. Rowe, William T., 1990. The public sphere in modern China'. Modern China, 16 July: 309–29.
43. Strand, David. 1990. Protest in Beijing: civil society and public sphere in China'. Problems of Communication, 29 May-June: 1–9.
44. Wasserstrom, Jeffrey N., and Perry, Elizabeth, eds. 1992. Popular Protest and Political Culture in Modern China: Learning from 1989, Boulder: Westview.
45. Ming, Chu Yiu. 1996. Zichou shiyi guoqing beihou dongji zhaoran ruojie' ('The real motive behind the proposed National Day celebrations is more than evident'). Si, nos, October: 45–46. 11 There were a variety of interpretations of the proposed service. Some believed that the idea had not come from the sponsors themselves, but that the sponsors had been invited to back the idea by the New China News Agency (NCNA). See
46. Fung Lerry, Raymond. 1996. Xiang shen jin Ie yi hou' ('After fulfilling our duties to God'). Christian Times, 26 May: 10
47. Yan, Kung Lap. 1996. Jidutu chouban guoqing nai celuexing zhenyi' ('Christian National Day celebrations as a strategic arrangement'). Ming Pao Daily, 8 June
48. Yan, Kung Lap. 1996. Cong Mading Lude de liangge guodu kan jinqi guoqing zhenlun" ("The two kingdoms of Martin Luther and the recent National Day celebration controversy"). Si, nos, October: 45–46. 38–42. In another article he explained the reasons why he considered National Day celebrations as lacking 'a sound and solid theological basis'. He believed that the priest could redeem only what originally belonged to God, like the people and the government. The notion of 'redeeming the National Day' was an attempt to turn a political question into a religious one. See
49. Wu Lerry, Rose. 1996. "Chouban guoqing dengru aiquo?" ("Is celebrating the National Day the same as being patriotic?'). Ming Pao Daily, 8 June
50. Clemetson, Lynette. 1996. "A test of faith and hope: Christians try to adjust to a future under communist masters'. Newsweek, 10 June: 16–17. The Ming Pao Daily devoted half a page to publishing articles by the sponsors and their opponents on 8 June and 9 July 1996 respectively. Other international reports include
51. Wong, Jesse. 1996. Crisis of faith: the China question splits Christians in Hong Kong'. Asian Wall Street Journal, 17 July: 1
52. ZyIa, Melana K., 1996. Devil of a dilemma: churches ponder how close to get to Beijing'. Far East Economic Review, 1 August: 17
53. Crowell, Todd. 1996. Christians wrestle over ties with atheist China'. Christian Science Monitor, 1 August: 1
54. Calhoun, Craig. 1993. Civil society and the public sphere'. Public Culture,: 5267–80.
55. Fung, Raymond. 1996. Jisi xiang shen jubei' ('Raising the cup of thanksgiving to God as his priest'). Christian Times, 19 May: 10
56. 1996. "Qianxian qunti ban xintu zixun dahui, diaocha zhi jiaohui buyi zichou guoqing' ("Front-line groups hold open consultation: poll results against church involvement in National Day celebrations'). Christian Times, 30 June: 10 Only five people believed that the year 1996 was the right time to hold the celebrations. Only one believed that 1 October 1996 was the right timing. As to the date for holding National Day celebrations in 1997, 1 October, 4 June, Double Ten and Christmas Day (25 December) were all among participants' choices. See
57. 1996. "Jidutu duo fandu ban guoqing juhui" ("Majority of Christians against National Day celebrations'). Ming Pao Daily, 29 June
58. 1996. "'Huigui lushang jiaohui de jueze" luntan: xintu duo fandu ban "shiyi" guoqing' ("Christian National Day celebrations on 1 October opposed by most participants in the decision of the church forum'). Ming Pao Daily, 15 June
59. 1996. "Jidutu fandu zixing chouban guoqing, faqiren biaoshi keyi gao linglei qing zhu" ("Christians oppose National Day celebrations by the church: sponsors suggest alternative celebrations'). Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 June
60. 1996. Yiqian jiceng de jiduijiao jiaoyou (Grassroot Christians). 'Jiaohui lingxiu fall miandui piping' ("Church leaders' deficiency in answering criticisms'). Ming Pao Daily, 2 July
61. Carver Yu Lerry "Jiaomu chouban. …"
62. Carver, Yu., 1996. "Buyuen zaizyi moquo zhimin' ("Should we remain a people without a national identity forever?'). Ming Pao Daily, 28 June
63. reporter, A Ming Pao. 1996. Huiying Yu Daxin "chengqing"' ('Reply to Carver Yu's clarification'). Ming Pao Daily, 9 July
64. 1996. Yiqian jieeng de jidujiao jiaoyou (Grassroots Christians). 'Aiguo de beihou' ('Behind patriotism'). Ming Pao Daily, 1 July For other criticisms
65. 1996. Yiwei pingfan de jinxinhui xintu (An ordinary Baptist Christian). 'Bu rentong Yu mushi de linian' ('Disagreement with Revd Yu's idea'). Ming Pao Daily, 9 July
66. Yiqian jiceng de jidujiao jiaoyou. 'Aiguo de beihou'
67. Yiqian jiceng de jidujiao jiaoyou, 'Jiaohui lingxiu fali miandui piping'
68. Cheung Yuk Wan et al., 'Jiaohui guoqing …'
69. Wan, Cheung Yuk. 1996. Jiaohui guoqing huodong yiming guojiari, sishiqi ming faqiren buri jueding shifou juxing' ('Christian National Day celebrations renamed National Day service: 47 sponsors will shortly decide whether to proceed'). Christian Times, 7 July: 1 Church leaders who expressed their views in the forum include Luk Fai (Church of Christ in China). Philemon Choi (Breakthrough Limited). Carver Yu (China Graduate School of Theology). Lo Lung Kwong (Methodist Church) and Gideon Yung (Fellowship of Evangelical Students). See
70. 1996. Guoqingri juhui gaiming guojiari chongbai' ('National Day celebrations renamed National Day service'). Ming Pao Daily, 1 July
71. Fung, Leung Wai. 1996. "Woshi zhongguo guoniin? -- gelie zhitong' ("Am I Chinese? -- the agony of alienation"). Ming Pao Daily, 9 July
72. 1996. "Zheshi wo dui guojiari chongbai de lichang" ("My position regarding the National Day service"). Christian Times, 4 August: 8 Chenmoren (The Silent One)
73. Cheng, Zhi. 1996. "Guojia zhudaori jiao shiyi" ("A national rogation day would be more appropriate"). Christian Times, 25 August: 8
74. Li, Chan Yi. 1996. "Cong jidutu shuangchong shenfen kan guoqing wenti" ("The twofold identity of Christians and National Day celebrations'). Christian Times, 7 July: 8
75. Fung, Raymond. 1996. "Kansi caoshou" ("Virtues in vain"). Christian Times, 14 July: 10
76. Chenmoren. 1996. Zheshi wo dui …'; Pingxintu (A Lay Believer). 'Qing yuanling women de lengmo' ("Please excuse our indifference"). Christian Times, 29 September: 9 For lay Christians' views on the timing of the celebrations, see