Hong Kong Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops have called for social justice in their Christmas messages, praising human rights defenders in China as 'shining stars'.

Hong Kong Christians have backed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, honoured for a "long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China".

Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun has urged China to change its stance on the crackdown 20 years ago against peaceful protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Today is the 20th anniversary of the crackdown.

Following on from China's recently-released Human Rights Action Plan, the new head of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong has called for further initiatives on civil rights across the 1.3 billion nation.