The passing of such a "subversion" law would give China even more power to quash Hong Kongers' freedoms, Lee warned.
"These vague standards are designed to protect the Chinese Communist Party and undermine core freedoms of Hong Kong, such as freedoms of religion, assembly and the press - including the reporting of pandemics that embarrass Beijing," he wrote.
The Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Hong Kong released a statement condemning the arrests April 18, calling for an end to all arrests until an independent commission can be established, and for the police to return the mobile phones of all arrested persons in order to ensure their privacy.
The diocese also reiterated that the government must respond to the demands for which the pro-democracy demonstrators have been calling for months, which include an independent inquiry into police tactics.
A Hong Kong friend of Lee, who declined to be identified for safety, said they believe Sun Li Jun- the deputy public security minister for Hong Kong who oversees the Chinese secret police- wanted to send a message of power ahead of Chinese Workers' Day celebration on May 1.
The friend believes Sun- who is reportedly under investigation by China for corruption- ordered the arrests to show that the authorities have control of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.
"As the followers of God, we will keep praying for [Hong Kong] and let our Lord lead the way," Lee's friend told CNA.
"In HK we all love China and Chinese people but we are against CCP [Chinese Communist Party] for what they did to all of us now and before."
An estimated 1 million protesters turned out at the first major pro-democracy demonstration in Hong Kong on June 6, 2019.
Catholics have played a major role in the protests, which continued after the extradition bill was revoked. Protestors largely called for the resignation of chief executive Carrie Lam- herself a Catholic- more open elections in the region, and an investigation into police brutality allegations.
In October, the legislature of Hong Kong completed the process of officially withdrawing the controversial extradition bill.
(Story continues below)
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"Had the extradition bill been passed, we could have faced trial already in China instead of Hong Kong," Lee noted in his column.
The impetus for the bill was a case involving a young Hong Kong man whom Taiwan requested be extradited for an alleged murder. Hong Kong previously has no formal extradition agreements with mainland China or Taiwan.
Christians and advocates widely opposed the bill, fearing that the Chinese government, which already seeks to control and suppress Christianity on the mainland, would use it to further tighten its grip on free exercise of religion in Hong Kong.
Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.