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【时代论坛讯】面对《逃犯条例》修订所引发的警民冲突以及暴力事件日益恶化，香港基督教协进会主席苏成溢牧师联同天主教香港教区宗座署理汤汉枢机今天（19日）早上联合发出紧急呼吁，敦促特首尽快撤回修订，并呼吁各方克制。

声明以中英文双语同步发出，指持续出现的警民冲突令全港市民万分痛心忧虑，吁请政府主动与社会不同界别代表，共商化解目前的困境。今次是苏成溢和汤汉在约一个月内第二次联合发表声明，上次是6月19日（主日），回应前一天特首林郑月娥就修订向市民公开道歉，要求她正式撤回草案。

近两个星期，多场反对修订的分区游行结束后均爆发严重警民冲突。民间人权阵线原订7月21日（主日）就《逃犯条例》修订再度举行集会，但警方要求押后。在商讨之后民阵将集会改为游行，由维园出发至中区终审法院。警方则要求游行队伍以湾仔庄士敦道及卢押道交界为终点，游行队伍不可以经过金钟和中环。

声明全文如下：

对持续出现警民冲突的紧急呼吁

反对修订《逃犯条例》引发警民冲突和暴力事件，且局面日益恶化，令全港市民万分痛心忧虑。我们特此发出紧急呼吁如下：

1. 恳请行政长官尽速回应民间的强烈诉求，撤回《逃犯条例》修订草案。
2. 恳请政府尽速成立独立调查委员会，以持平地查找真相。
   
3. 各方人士必须克制，避免挑釁。无论立场如何，要珍惜生命，切勿作出伤害自己或他人的行为。
4. 吁请政府主动与社会不同界别代表，共商化解目前的困境。

香港基督教协进会 主席 苏成溢牧师
天主教香港教区 宗座署理汤汉枢机

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