Hong Kong protests: retired cardinal Joseph Zen and 5 others to stand trial over fund registration, with group also facing national security probe
- Present case could be prelude to more legal troubles for trustees of the now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, with national security investigation under way
- Case postponed to Monday because magistrate had tested positive for Covid-19
Retired Hong Kong Catholic leader Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and five other activists will stand trial on Monday for allegedly failing to register a legal defence fund that helped those embroiled in the 2019 anti-government protests, facing a fine of up to HK$10,000 (US$1,274) if convicted.
The high-profile West Kowloon Court trial will centre on whether the now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund required registration under the Societies Ordinance, as well as the defendants’ roles in the group.
Zen, 90, was the fund’s trustee alongside singer Denise Ho Wan-see, former Lingnan University academic Hui Po-keung, and ex-opposition lawmakers Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee and Cyd Ho Sau-lan. The sixth defendant, Sze Ching-wee, was the fund’s secretary.
The prosecution will be spearheaded by deputy director of public prosecutions Anthony Chau Tin-hang, the lead prosecutor in a number of high-profile cases, including the first trial under the Beijing-decreed national security law.
The trial will be heard by Principal Magistrate Ada Yim Shun-yee, who is among the few jurists hand-picked by the city’s leader to handle national security proceedings, although prosecutors did not specifically ask for a so-called designated judge to preside over the case.
Initially slated for last Monday, the trial was adjourned a week because the magistrate had earlier tested positive for Covid-19.
The six defendants all face a count of failing to apply for registration of an organisation within a specific period between July 16, 2019 and October 31 last year.