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Hong Kong Court Upholds Convictions for Zen in Relief Fund Case
Confirmed
In Short: A panel of three appellate judges in Hong Kong has upheld the convictions of retired Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other pro-democracy advocates for operating an unregistered relief fund during the 2019-2020 protests.
A panel of three appellate judges in Hong Kong has upheld the convictions of retired Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other pro-democracy advocates for operating an unregistered relief fund during the 2019-2020 protests, according to Angelus News. The convictions stem from the failure to legally register the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund as a 'society' under the Societies Ordinance, which carries monetary fines.
Zen and his co-defendants argued they did not believe the fund qualified as a 'society' when they established it to help protesters opposed to the 2019 extradition bill, and that they did not believe they had to register it under the Societies Ordinance. However, the court ruled that a 'society' under the ordinance has an expansive definition, citing the text which includes 'any club, company, partnership or association of 10 or more persons, whatever its nature or object.
The convictions come despite Zen and the co-defendants' belief that the fund did not need to be registered, and the court noted some exemptions such as charities, religious organizations, and social clubs, but organizers must apply for an exemption.
The case highlights the ongoing legal challenges faced by pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong, following the 2019-2020 protests and the subsequent crackdown on dissent.
Background
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Situated on China's southern coast just south of Shenzhen, it consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories.
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