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【時代論壇訊】面對《逃犯條例》修訂所引發的警民衝突以及暴力事件日益惡化，香港基督教協進會主席蘇成溢牧師聯同天主教香港教區宗座署理湯漢樞機今天（19日）早上聯合發出緊急呼籲，敦促特首盡快撤回修訂，並呼籲各方克制。

聲明以中英文雙語同步發出，指持續出現的警民衝突令全港市民萬分痛心憂慮，籲請政府主動與社會不同界別代表，共商化解目前的困境。今次是蘇成溢和湯漢在約一個月內第二次聯合發表聲明，上次是6月19日（主日），回應前一天特首林鄭月娥就修訂向市民公開道歉，要求她正式撤回草案。

近兩個星期，多場反對修訂的分區遊行結束後均爆發嚴重警民衝突。民間人權陣線原訂7月21日（主日）就《逃犯條例》修訂再度舉行集會，但警方要求押後。在商討之後民陣將集會改為遊行，由維園出發至中區終審法院。警方則要求遊行隊伍以灣仔莊士敦道及盧押道交界為終點，遊行隊伍不可以經過金鐘和中環。

聲明全文如下：

對持續出現警民衝突的緊急呼籲

反對修訂《逃犯條例》引發警民衝突和暴力事件，且局面日益惡化，令全港市民萬分痛心憂慮。我們特此發出緊急呼籲如下：

1. 懇請行政長官盡速回應民間的強烈訴求，撤回《逃犯條例》修訂草案。
2. 懇請政府盡速成立獨立調查委員會，以持平地查找真相。
   
3. 各方人士必須克制，避免挑釁。無論立場如何，要珍惜生命，切勿作出傷害自己或他人的行為。
4. 籲請政府主動與社會不同界別代表，共商化解目前的困境。

香港基督教協進會 主席 蘇成溢牧師
天主教香港教區 宗座署理湯漢樞機

2019年7月19日

Urgent Appeal regarding the Ongoing Clashes
Between the Police and Members of the Public

The mass protests against the proposed amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance have resulted in clashes and violence between the Police and members of the public, and the situation is deteriorating. The people of Hong Kong are deeply worried and distressed. Hereby we issue the following urgent appeal:

1. We urge the Chief Executive to respond as soon as possible to the strong demands of the public to withdraw the Bill of the proposed amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance.
2. We urge the Government to set up an independent commission of inquiry as soon as possible to find out the truth in an impartial manner.
3. All parties must exercise restraint and avoid provocation. Regardless of one’s political stance, one should treasure life and refrain from doing anything that might harm oneself or others.
4. We urge the government to take the initiative to confer with the representatives of different factions to seek a solution to the current impasse.

Rev. Dr. Eric So Shing-yit, Chairperson, Hong Kong Christian Council
Cardinal John Tong, Apostolic Administrator, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong

19 July 2019