Professor Ying Fuk Tsang, a divinity professor in Hong Kong, believes "the upsurge of Christianity is really a potential destabilising factor in the eyes of the Chinese Communist Party," which is concerned that the concept of democracy might be spread by the Protestant church, impacting on the social situation of the state.
"Such growth was seen mainly in rural villages in the past", but has already spread to big cities like Beijing. Among converts are university students and entrepreneurs, "showing that the urban population has an increasing interest in seeking the meaning of life," said Ying.
Of China's 1.3 billion people, the government has officially noted 14 million as Protestant Christians. However, various sources set that figure as high as 70 million. Ying believes 30-40 million is more accurate. – Elinor Wong and Francis Wong, ENI
