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Hong Kong bishop visits Shanghai as travel ban ends

China invited the head of Hong Kong's Catholic church to return to his hometown of Shanghai last week, lifting a six-year ban on one of Beijing's outspoken critics, a newspaper reported yesterday.

Bishop Joseph Zen, who was barred from the mainland in 1998, met with government officials and Shanghai's Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian during a three-day trip that ended Friday, the South China Morning Post reported.

Zen confirmed the report yesterday, but declined comment. He is a vocal critic of China's suppression of churches loyal to the Vatican, which scholars have estimated serve about half of at least 12 million faithful in the country.

Zen was among the leading opponents of an anti-subversion bill that China wanted passed but that the government -- faced with overwhelming public pressure -- was forced to drop last year.

"I appreciate the sincerity and friendliness mainland authorities have shown and I hope this is the first step toward more communication," he said. "At least trust still exists between us."
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