The Bishop of Hong Kong, Stephen Chow, has called on Hongkongers to be empathetic, tolerant and forgiving in his Christmas message.

Despite ongoing wars and geopolitical tensions, as well as a slack post-pandemic economy, the city’s top Catholic cleric said people should have faith in what’s in store for the future.

"My friends in Hong Kong, do have confidence in our worthiness for something much better than what we are experiencing. But we must get up, leave our limiting comfort zones, stop feeling sorry for ourselves," Chow said.

"Let us be the ones who reflect the light of Christmas to those struggling in their darkness."

Meanwhile, Chow said it is heartbreaking to see a rise in the number of young people engaging in self-destructive behavior.

"We must also allow our educators to have time, space and energy to accompany them," he said.

"If our educators are already overwhelmed by the different job-related requirements, they cannot be in a position to learn how best to accompany their students, even if they want to do so."

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, Andrew Chan, called for forgiveness, reconciliation, and service in his Christmas message.

"When we see Hong Kong teenagers imprisoned due to a lapse of judgement, or the many homeless, or the growing number of elderly forced into loneliness due to social changes and the emigration wave, what we ought to learn and do is: to forgive those who have wronged us, bringing the gift of reconciliation to them and to our society; to walk humbly with those in need, reaching out to them before they ask, showing them that there is still love in this world," he said.