A Hong Kong court on Thursday upheld the convictions of a 94-year-old Roman Catholic cardinal and four other prominent figures who were found guilty of failing to register a now-defunct fund that provided financial assistance to individuals arrested during the 2019 anti-government protests.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, the retired bishop of Hong Kong and a vocal advocate for democracy, was a trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund. The fund ceased operations in October 2021, after helping to cover medical and legal expenses for arrested protesters. Also among the trustees appealing their convictions were singer Denise Ho, scholar Hui Po Keung, and former pro-democracy lawmakers Margaret Ng and Cyd Ho.
In 2022, the five were convicted and each fined 4,000 Hong Kong dollars (approximately $512) for violating the Societies Ordinance. This law mandates that local organizations must register or obtain an exemption within one month of their establishment. These convictions marked the first of their kind under the ordinance.
Observers have noted the case's significance to the city's freedom of association, particularly amidst the substantial political shifts in Hong Kong following the 2019 protests. In May 2022, Zen and the other four were arrested on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under a national security law imposed by Beijing, although they were not ultimately charged under that legislation. Zen's arrest at that time caused considerable consternation within the Catholic community.
Following his 2022 conviction, Cardinal Zen stated that his case should not be linked to the city's religious freedoms.
The 2019 protests initially arose in response to a proposed bill, later withdrawn, that would have permitted the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. The demonstrations evolved into months of widespread unrest.
Since its enactment in 2020, the national security law has significantly curtailed Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, leading to the imprisonment of numerous activists. The law has also eroded confidence in the freedoms of the former British colony, which was returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities maintain that the law is essential for maintaining the city's stability.