Hong Kong: Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam was due to face the public on Tuesday evening, two days after two million people marched against her extradition bill, many of them calling for her resignation.

But on Monday, Lam took counsel from six religious leaders.

Hong Kong Cardinal John Tong.Credit:Rock Li/CC

The heavy hand of communist Beijing is being watched in Hong Kong, as speculation rises over whether Lam will step down as leader. But another strong factor in Hong Kong's politics is Christianity, from the office of the chief executive to the streets and the people power movement.

Lam refused to become a Communist Party member because it would require her to renounce her Catholic faith.

Yet while she met with Catholic Cardinal John Tong on Monday evening, Bishop Joseph Ha stayed outside her office, praying with young protesters who were demanding she step down.

"No matter how long they stay, I will continue to stay with them," said reverend Ha, 60.

Yat-ming Fung, director of the Hong Kong Catholic Social Affairs office, said protesters were in contact with priests, and when things became too agitated, they called the bishops down to the protest zone to soothe the situation.

"We are trying to keep the young ones calm," said Fung, who is from Melbourne. "There is no way things should become violent."

Bishop Joseph HaCredit:Catholic.org.hk

He says Lam is a member of Wanchai parish, but the Catholic church doesn't promote any political candidates. Instead it calls for justice – which means universal suffrage.

The church opposed the extradition law because it would imperil missionaries in China, where a crackdown on religious groups has worsened under president Xi Jinping.

"What if a particular individual is accused of illegal trading – selling the bible?" says Fung, who marched on Sunday.

He also sang. "Sing Hallelujah to the Lord" has become the movement's anthem.

Australian lawyer Antony Dapiran says protesters believe religious songs would protect them from prosecution, because religious gatherings are exempt under Hong Kong's public order laws.

Professor Jean-Pierre Cabestan of Hong Kong Baptist University says Christianity, particularly Catholicism and Methodism, is a strong influence in Hong Kong's political activism.

Joshua Wong addresses protesters on Monday.Credit:Bloomberg

Umbrella movement founder Joshua Wong attended a Methodist school.

"Hong Kong is a religous city. All the top schools are Catholic. Lam went to a school run by nuns," says Cabestan. "Many Chinese fled communism because they were Christian."

The first mass democracy protest movement, Occupy Central, was launched at the Kowloon Union Church in 2013.

The only Occupy founder to escape prison in April, Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, 75, was granted leniency for his record of public service. The Baptist pastor marched again on Sunday.

Kenneth Chan, a former Legislative Council member for the Civic Party, said many democracy activists like him are lay Catholics who feel strongly about protecting Hong Kong's freedom of speech and religious freedom.

Reverend Chu Yiu-ming (right, front) with other Occupy protesters in April.Credit:EPA

"It is not just the clergy. There are outspoken individual leaders like retired Cardinal Joseph Zen who are moral leaders, and many lay Catholics respond."

On Tuesday, Lam was expected to hold a press conference and personally apologise to the public. A day earlier police commissioner Stephen Lo had sought to calm public anger by saying only five protesters on June 12 had committed acts of rioting and the majority of the young people should not fear prosecution.

But human rights groups said if only five people were violent, the police use of 150 rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets was disproportionate.

A protester with a mask gathers with others near the Legislative Council.Credit:AP

Chan said Lam's government could no longer govern: "People are angry at her arrogance and she is not willing to listen. She should do the honourable thing and just go, but it may not be easy. Beijing may not let her go."

Cabestan says it was "too late" on Monday for Lam to reach out to the church. She should have brought the community on side earlier.

He said the chief executive role was an "impossible task – to answer to Beijing and at the same time be accountable to the people of Hong Kong". No chief executive since the British handover has completed a full term.

"She is in damage control mode. It is hard to predict but she may be forced to resign soon or she may survive because what are the alternatives?"

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