Cardinal Stephen Chow said earlier this month that “religious persecution per se is not happening in Hong Kong” as he defended the state of civil liberties in the city. Speaking in Parramatta, Australia, on September 15, Chow also urged people to visit Hong Kong to see for themselves. “I sincerely say that religious persecution per se is not happening in Hong Kong,” Chow said during a public dialogue that was livestreamed on YouTube. He defended the state of religious freedom in Hong Kong, arguing that China wants to maintain the liberty in the city. “I believe Beijing wants to keep the religious freedom intact in Hong Kong because Hong Kong is important for China – still important – if not for the financial thing,” he said.