【2011 年 10 月 22 日香港訊】 ─ 我們在場記者的描述：

「現在是2011年10月22日星期六上午11時。約半小時前，陳日君樞機結束了一連三日三夜的公開禁食（不吃東西，只喝礦泉水及領聖體）。這場歷時七十二小時的禁食，表達了他對香港的教育制度，因『2004年修訂的校本條例』所受到創傷的悲哀。七年來，天主教香港教區嘗試透過法律程序，避免校本條例的實施。最後，終審法院於數天前，駁回天主教香港教區有關該條例的上訴，為條例實施開了綠燈。

陳樞機的禁食，以一則他健康的報導結束，他講了幾句話，作了祈禱，並與對這獨一無二事件深感興趣的本港傳媒，作了簡短的答問，當時約有一百名人士在場。

陳樞機已經七十九歲，並患有心臟病及糖尿病，健康備受關注，因為有必要匯報健康狀況。報告顯示了惹人注目的事實：縱使長時間禁食，陳樞機的健康狀況大致穩定正常。在場信眾立時鬆一口氣。禁食期間，不同界別人士紛紛前來慈幼修院大門外，陳樞機禁食的地方，他們包括香港教區三名主教代表、數名香港立法會議員、教區及修會神父、男女老幼的信眾（包括眾多小孩）。慈幼修院特別感謝天主教香港教區正義和平委員會的成員，在樞機禁食期間，擔當保安及維持秩序的工作。

在樞機簡短的講話中，他驚訝他自己正常的健康狀況。他本預期在心靈的悲傷下，生理上也多少受損，然而這並沒有發生。他對所有為他祈禱，並因他公開禁食而擔負額外工作的人士表示感謝。他亦表達了對天主的信賴，祂將扶助香港教會，在新法例的限制下，繼續推行其教育使命。他結束禁食時向天主祈禱，為所有香港人呼求天主，賜予他們對待貧困者、有需要人士及青少年時，能更深入表達正義與共融的意識。」

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ends His Public Fast Surrounded by His People

(HONG KONG, 22 October 2011) – Our eyewitness reporter in this case has the following to say:

"It is Hong Kong time 11:00 a.m. Saturday, 22 October, 2011. About half an hour ago Cardinal Joseph Zen ended his 3 day and 3 night public fast (no food, only mineral water and Holy Communion). This 72 hour fast expressed Cardinal Zen’s grief at the grievous damage done to the Hong Kong education system by the Amended Education Ordinance 2004. For seven years, the Catholic Church in Hong Kong has been trying, by legal means. to prevent this Amended Ordinance from coming into effect. Finally, a few days ago, the Court of Final Appeal turned down the Catholic Diocese’s appeal against the Ordinance, opening the way for its legal implementation.

Cardinal Zen’s fasting ended with a report about the Cardinal’s health, a few words by Cardinal Zen, a prayer service, and a final Question & Answer session with the Hong Kong media, who had followed this unique event with great interest. About a hundred people were present.

The health report was needed, given the general concern for the health of  79 year old Cardinal Zen, who suffers from a heart condition and from diabetes. The health report revealed a striking fact: throughout the fasting, the Cardinal’s health remained remarkably stable and normal. All the faithful present drew a breath of relief. During the fast, people from all walks of life showed up before the closed entrance of Salesian Missionary House, outside which Cardinal Zen was keeping his fast, among them the three Episcopal Vicars of the Hong Kong Diocese, several members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, diocesan and religious priests, faithful young and old, and many children. Salesian Missionary House is especially grateful to the members of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese who shouldered all the burden of securing safety and order during the Cardinal’s fast.

In his short address, the Cardinal expressed his surprise at the normal state of his health. He had intended to suffer a little physically to accompany the grief of his soul, but this actually did not happen. He expressed his gratitude to all who had prayed for him and to all who had to shoulder extra work because of his public fast. He expressed also his trust in God, who will help the Church in Hong Kong continue her educational service within the constraints of the new law. He concluded with a prayer to God, invoking for all Hong Kong people a deeper sense of justice and solidarity with the poor, the needy, and the young".