胡樞機牧函
主內的兄弟姊妹：
「你們蒙召選，是為得到自由；但不要以這自由作為放縱肉慾的藉口，惟要以愛德彼此服事。因為全部法律總括在這句話內：愛你的近人如你自己」（迦 5:13-14）。
一九九九年，禧年準備期的第三和最後的一年，目標是要擴大我們的視野，觀看事物，要以基督和「那在天上的父親」的觀點，因為「主由祂所派遣并又回到祂那裡去」。基督徒生活的全部，就像通往父家的盛大朝聖之旅，發生在每人心中，伸展到信仰團體，以致整個人類。在這一年中，強調神學德行——愛德，「天主是愛」。在愛天主與愛近人的雙重實質中，總括了信友的倫理生活。（參「第三個千年將臨之際」宗座文告49-50）。
就這一觀點，對港人內地所生子女的居留權問題，其討論和發展，當有新的看法；對其長期輪候，未得批准，不能與香港家人團聚，自亦特別關注。
其實香港成年人，多在五十、六十年代，從中國大陸來港定居。當時香港，面對不斷湧進的人潮，雖無堅強的經濟和社會架構，卻毫無保留，開門迎接。今日香港，雖然經濟不景，但與世界各地相比，真是得天獨厚，令人妒忌。身為炎黃子孫，「血濃於水」、「四海一家」，一向善與人同，樂於分享。今對生於故國家園的兒女，豈能硬起心腸，漠視人道，借用「解釋」，令其失望？
特區政府，心繫香港，努力承擔，令人敬佩；但為香港長遠利益，尋求人大常委解釋基本法，限制港人內地子女的居港權，引發香港人對內地人的抗拒，後果堪憂！香港人，勤奮聰明，樂善好施，對香港本地和國內外的天災人禍，向來慷慨解囊，譽滿中外；面對此次居港權問題，若能給予足夠時間，提供準確資料，探取適當措施，香港各熱心人士，善長仁翁，志願組織及宗教團體，諒必一本過往為善最樂的服務精神，齊心合力，竭盡所能；面對挑戰，共渡時艱；把握機會，發揮愛心，再創奇跡；表現香港民間有愛，社會有情。
按「一國兩制、高度自治」，乃中央對香港特區的莊嚴承諾，而關於香港特區自治範圍內的條款，人大常委授權特區法院自行解釋，更是貫徹「一國兩制、高度自治」之重要安排，奠定香港特區法治的基石。香港作為六百萬人的家園、世界的國際都市、祖國的重要窗口，保持這塊法治基石完整，至為重要。此次居留權問題，原屬香港自治範圍，特區理應自行解釋，今竟不此之圖，尋求人大常委解釋，難不破壞特區法治的基石、動搖港人家庭的根基、使人懷疑中央推行「一國兩制、高度自治」的承諾，打擊國際人士對香港的信心；影嚮深遠，誰能確定！？
各位兄弟姊妺，此時此地，感到無奈？可以理解！束手無策？別忘信仰！加強祈禱，開放自己；堅定信心，「自助天助」，因為「祂能照他在我們身上所發揮的德能，成就一切，遠超我們所求所想的。願祂在教會內，并在耶穌基督內，獲享光榮，至於萬世萬代，阿孟。」（弗 3:20-21）。
胡振中樞機•九九年聖母訪親慶日
五月卅一日
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
"You were called to freedom, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, You shall love your neighbour as yourself." (Gal 5:13-14)
1999, the third and final year of preparation for the Great Jubilee will be aimed at broadening the horizons of believers, so that they will see things in the perspective of Christ: in the perspective of the "Father who is in heaven", from whom the Lord was sent and to whom he has returned. The whole of the Christian life is like a great pilgrimage to the house of the Father, whose unconditional love for every human creature we discover anew each day. This pilgrimage takes place in the heart of each person, extends to the believing community and then reaches to the whole humanity. It will therefore be necessary, especially during this year, to emphasize the theological virtue of charity, recalling the significant and lapidary words of the First Letter of John: "God is love". Charity, in its twofold reality as love of God and love of neighbour, is the summing up of the moral life of the believer. (cf. Tertio Millennio Adveniente, nos, 49-50)
These perspectives ought to provide us with a new way of looking at the question of the right of abode of children born in the Mainland to Hong Kong parents, a new way of discussing the question and its consequences. In the long term, these children cannot without permission be reunited with their families in Hong Kong and we should pay special attention to this.
In fact, a large number of adult Hong Kong residents came from the Mainland to settle here in the 1950s and 1960s. Hong Kong at that time was not blessed with a strong economy or firm social structure. Nevertheless, when faced with a continuous flood of refugees, there was no hesitation and doors were opened to welcome them. At the present time, the economic outlook is not so bright. Yet, compared with the rest of the world, Hong Kong is seen to be particularly blessed and is still the envy of many. Based on the belief that "blood is thicker than water", that "all within the four seas are one family", the Chinese people have always shown kindness to others and taken delight in sharing. Faced then today with the question of children born to Hong Kong parents in the Motherland, how can we harden our hearts, look on with indifference and a lack of humanity, and use "interpretation" to deny them hope?
The Government of the S.A.R., in its concern for Hong Kong and its sense of responsibility, is to be respected. But when it seeks the long term prosperity of Hong Kong by requesting the Standing Committee of the N.P.C . for re-interpretation of the Basic Law in order to limit the right of abode of children born in the Mainland to Hong Kong parents, then it engenders a certain resistance on the part of Hong Kong residents to Mainland people, with lamentable consequences. Diligent and resourceful, benevolent and caring, the people of Hong Kong are well known both within and beyond China for their generosity and open-handedness in helping wherever disaster strikes and causes human suffering, whether within Hong Kong itself, in China, or in other countries. Given sufficient time, and provided with adequate information and proper arrangements, Hong Kong's zealous people, philanthropists, voluntary bodies and church communities could deal with the present question of right of abode, and, united in hand and in heart, could respond to the limits of their ability to face the challenge and to meet the difficulties, could grasp the opportunity to develop a spirit of love and create a new miracle. Let it be seen that the people of Hong Kong are loving and its society is a caring one.
In accordance with the principles of "one country, two systems" and "a high degree of autonomy", the Central Government's solemn commitment to the Hong Kong S.A.R., and with reference to the provisions of the scope of self governance of the Hong Kong S.A.R., the N. P. C. gave Hong Kong courts the right to interpret its own laws. This right is the established basis of Hong Kong's system of law and of government. Hong Kong is home to more than six million people, an international city belonging to the community of nations, an important window for our Motherland. It is extremely important that the basis of law and government be maintained in all its integrity. The present question of the right of abode belongs within the competence of Hong Kong's autonomy. The S.A.R. should itself give its own interpretation, but it has not done this. Asking for a reinterpretation from the Standing Committee of the N.P.C. cannot help but damage the foundation of the autonomy of the S.A.R., shake the foundations of the Hong Kong family, raise doubts in people's minds about the Central Government's promise of "one country, two systems with a high degree of autonomy", undermine the confidence of the international community towards Hong Kong. Who can be sure how far-reaching the effects will be?
Dear brothers and sisters, facing this present situation do we feel helpless? That is understandable! Can nothing be done? Remember our faith. Pray more, open ourselves, believe firmly. God helps those who help themselves, because His "power working in us can do more than we can ask for or imagine. Glory be to Him from generation to generation in the church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever, Amen." (Eph 3:20-21)
+ John B. Card. Wu
Visitation of Our Lady 1999 (31 May)