Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen arrested on charges of foreign complicity

The arrests may indicate a new wave of arrests under the National Security Act since then John Lee Elected new chief executive of Hong Kong. He stressed that maintaining stability and maintaining national security would be one of his main goals.

Zain, famed lawyer Margaret Ng and academic Hwi Bo Kyung have been arrested under the law for allegedly collusion with foreign forces by helping as trustees of the now-dissolved 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, according to local media reports.

Lawyers familiar with the case confirmed the arrests. The three were trustees of the fund, which provided financial assistance to detainees in the 2019 pro-democracy protests and paid legal fees. The fund was dissolved in September after the National Security Police issued a statement saying it would investigate whether the entity had violated the Security Act.

The lawyers spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic.

Zen has been an advocate for pro-democracy issues in Hong Kong and critic The Vatican for its silence on Hong Kong and the growing repression of churches on the mainland. In 2020, Zen is trying to do it Meeting Pope Francis During a visit to the Vatican, to persuade him to appoint a new bishop of Hong Kong “who the people trust” and could stand firmly against the encroachment of Beijing’s grip on the region, but was unable to meet him.

In January, the pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao newspaper Criticize Zain accused him of “abusing his role as a cleric,” saying he “interfered in Hong Kong affairs.” Zane continued to attend trials and visit imprisoned Catholic activists, including Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-closed pro-democracy Apple Daily.

Local popular singer Denise Ho has also been arrested, according to local media reports.