Hong Kong minister allegedly arrested and tried in mainland China for printing Christian books
Reverend Ng Wah has been out of touch since July, says Ming Pao article, which reports that name matching his was found on court list in Guangzhou
A minister from a Hong Kong church with a focus on mainland church development is believed to have been arrested and charged by mainland authorities for printing Christian books and raising money.
Reverend Ng Wah, who is in his 50s and helped start the Christian Church of Chinese Ministry, has been out of touch since July, Ming Pao reported.
The article quoted a church member as saying he was told by a reliable mainland source that Ng had been arrested for printing Christian books, and for raising money to do so.
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It said a court list at Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court on February 19 showed that a person named “Ng Wah” had stood trial for a fraud in financing case involving more than 100 million yuan (HK$120 million).
Also standing trial was the case’s first defendant, Lin Jingying, the name of a person who organised a local family church. In addition, this first defendant was allegedly involved in a dispute in borrowing money in December and was taken to Tianhe People’s Court in Guangzhou in December.
The church’s website says it has two operations in Hong Kong and a meeting point in Futian, Shenzhen. It’s mission includes promoting pastoral care across Hong Kong and the mainland and training workers for churches on the mainland, the website states.
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According to a report by Ming Pao in July, Reverend Philip Woo, who also helped start the church, said he had been summoned to Shenzhen by mainland authorities who told him not to preach to Christians on the mainland.
Woo, who also operates International Tin Lang Ministry, said he was told he had violated Chinese religious laws by posting an online message calling on mainland Christians to come to Hong Kong for training.
He was summoned to Shenzhen to meet with the religious affairs authorities in Futian district in July. Two officials gave him a written notice telling him to cease his activities.
Woo also told Commercial Radio that his church had been organising activities for mainland Christians every year and had never had any problems.
