[Hong Kong Court Upholds Convictions of Cardinal Zen and Four Associates Regarding Faulty Protest Relief Fund]
HONG KONG — A Hong Kong court on Thursday dismissed appeals brought by a 94-year-old Roman Catholic cardinal and four co-defendants over their convictions for failing to register a now-defunct relief fund that had assisted individuals detained during the 2019 anti‑government protests.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, a distinguished bishop and outspoken champion for democratic rights in the city, served as a trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund. This organization previously covered medical expenses and legal costs for arrested protesters until it closed its operations in October 2021. The remaining three accused—singer Denise Ho, scholar Hui Po Keung, and former pro‑democracy legislator Margaret Ng along with Cyd Ho—also held trusteeship positions within the same entity.
In 2022, the five defendants were found guilty and each received a fine of 4,000 Hong Kong dollars ($512). Their sentencing stemmed from a breach of the Societies Ordinance, which mandates that local organizations either register with the government or seek formal exemptions within one month of their inception. These constituted the inaugural convictions of their kind under the ordinance.
Lawmakers and civil libertarians argue the case carries additional weight for Hong Kong’s broader struggle for institutional freedom. Its outcome offers insight into how the jurisdiction handles non‑compliance with administrative requirements of charitable organizations.
Earlier arrests of Cardinal Zen occurred in 2022 on suspicions of colluding with external actors—though notably, he was never formally charged under the Beijing‑imposed national security legislation. When sentenced, Zen emphasized that his case bears no connection to questions of religious liberty.
The 2019 demonstrations erupted after a legislative proposal linking suspected criminal suspects to mainland extradition—a measure later repealed—thereby igniting weeks of unrest.
Since its installation in 2020, the national security law has profoundly restricted advocacy work associated with the former British colony, resulting in numerous imprisonments among pro‑demony figures and eroding public confidence in longstanding civil liberties.
Authorities from Beijing and Hong Kong maintain that the legislation serves essential purposes for preserving order and harmony following years of civic discord.
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