Hong Kong's Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun has warned that Hong Kong's marginalised have seen little improvement in their situation since the handover 10 years ago.

Cardinal Zen joined around 300 other Catholics last Sunday in a shortened version of the Way of the Cross to mark 30 years since the inception of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.

The procession was held to highlight the deteriorating situation of Hong Kong's marginalised, who include those still living below the poverty line and those persecuted for defending human rights, according to the chairperson of the commission, Lisa Leung Yuk-ming.

"We are not Jesus, but we can bear the cross like Simon," said Cardinal Zen, in a report from Hong Kong's The Standard newspaper. He urged participants to become like Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry the cross.

"The main character of the Way of Cross is neither the commission nor I, but the marginalised people in Hong Kong. They are Jesus of today, walking their way of the cross. Our mission, the church and society is to help them gain respect again."

Cardinal Zen warned that progress towards full democracy in Hong Kong had ground to a halt before calling on city residents to march on 1 July - the 10th anniversary of the handover - to demonstrate their support for universal suffrage.

"It's important for us to raise the awareness of society so that more people would care about it. Hong Kong people are wise and have the potential to solve problems," he affirmed.

He added that he would pray for the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Donald Tsang.