Hong Kong Court Convicts Cardinal Zen, 5 Others Over Fund for Pro-Democracy Protesters

Hong Kong Court Convicts Cardinal Zen, 5 Others Over Fund for Pro-Democracy Protesters
(L–R) Former lawmaker Cyd Ho, Cardinal Joseph Zen, human rights barrister Margaret Ng, activist and singer Denise Ho, and professor Hui Po-keung pose for a photo outside West Kowloon Court in Hong Kong on Nov. 25, 2022. Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images
The Associated Press
Updated:

HONG KONG—A 90-year-old Roman Catholic cardinal and five others in Hong Kong were fined after being found guilty Friday of failing to register a now-defunct fund that aimed to help people arrested in the widespread protests three years ago.

Cardinal Joseph Zen, a retired bishop and a vocal democracy advocate of the city, arrived at court in a black outfit and used a walking stick. He was first arrested in May on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under a Beijing-imposed National Security Law. His arrest sent shockwaves through the Catholic community, although the Vatican only stated it was monitoring the development of the situation closely.