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Religion in Hong Kong

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Residents of Hong Kong enjoy a high level of religious freedom. Ancestor worship is the primary religion, due to the strong Confucian influence. About 10% of the population are Christians, with half being Protestant and half being Catholic. There are also about 70,000 Muslims, 2,000-3,000 Jews, and a few Hindus. There are also followers of Buddhism and Taoism. There was some concern about the religious freedom of Hong Kong when it was transferred to the PRC, but so far, that has not happened. However, the government did ban the Falun Gong movement in 1999. The Catholic Church in Hong Kong appoints their own bishops, which is not the case on Mainland China. In China, only the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association can appoint bishops and priests. Hong Kong was formerly a fishing community, so many of its religious beliefs are tied to that role. Tin Hau, the protector of seafarers, has been honored by Hong Kong for over 300 years with the building of several temples around Hong Kong.

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