Hong Kong cardinal, 90 years old, in court accused of violating China’s national security law | World News

A 90-year-old Catholic leader has appeared in court in Hong Kong accused of violating China’s national security law.

Cardinal Joseph Zen was arrested along with five others – including singer Denise Ho and former opposition politicians Margaret Ng and Cyd Ho – two weeks ago on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces.

The six are trustees of the now defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which was established in 2019 to help anti-government protesters with legal or medical costs.

They appeared in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon court on Tuesday and denied allegations of failing to register the relief fund as an organization with the police – an offense that carries a fine of up to $10,000. Hong Kong dollars (£1,000).

The case will now go to trial on September 19 and is expected to last five days.

Police opened an investigation into the fund for national security reasons in September 2021. A month later, the fund said it would cease operations, citing the city’s deteriorating political environment. city.

Cardinal Zen’s arrest has drawn international condemnation, with the Vatican saying it is monitoring developments.

Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020 to rein in dissent.

It outlawed subversion, secession, terrorism and foreign collusion, and has since been used to arrest more than 150 people.

Pro-democracy news outlets like Apple Daily and Stand News were forced to shut down following national security investigations.

The electoral law was also revised to ensure only “patriots” were allowed to rule, effectively preventing pro-democracy advocates from taking power.