The Hong Kong Court of Appeal heard this week the appeal filed by Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other administrators of the now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Fund, who were convicted in 2022 for failing to formally register the organization as a society, as required by local legislation. The judge in charge of the case announced that the verdict will be announced within the next nine months.
A 93-year-old cardinal back in court
Cardinal Zen, emeritus bishop of Hong Kong and one of the most critical Catholic voices regarding Beijing’s control over the territory, was seen entering the court wearing a mask, carrying a cane, and with a small bag, according to The Pillar. Alongside him, the lawyer Margaret Ng, the singer Denise Ho, the former parliamentarian Cyd Ho, and the academic Hui Po-keung are also appealing; all of them were members of the trust that managed the fund intended to help pro-democracy protesters.
In November 2022, the five were found guilty and fined 4,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 512 US dollars). A sixth involved party, the fund’s secretary, Sze Ching-wee, was convicted separately and did not appeal.
The charge: failing to register the fund as a society
The process was not directly related to the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, but rather to an administrative requirement: registering the fund as a society or applying for an exemption. The prosecution argued that, by receiving public donations and acting as an organized entity, the fund fit the legal definition of a “society,” even though it lacked formal statutes.
The defense argued that the administrators believed they were not required to register it under the associations regulations.
The Hong Kong Democracy Council —a pro-democracy organization based in the United States— stated that the hearing addressed technical aspects about whether the fund should be considered a society or a trust, but maintained that the true background of the case is political, and that the cardinal and his companions are being persecuted for their defense of civil rights.
The origin of the case: the 612 Fund and the 2019 protests
The 612 Humanitarian Fund was created in June 2019 to provide legal and medical assistance to people detained, injured, or affected during the massive protests against the extradition bill, which would have allowed accused individuals to be tried in mainland China. Although the bill was withdrawn, the political crisis led to the imposition of the National Security Law in 2020, which severely restricted civil liberties.
The closure of the fund in 2021 and the detentions of public figures —including the Catholic businessman Jimmy Lai— fueled fears that critical religious leaders, such as Cardinal Zen, would also face reprisals.
Zen, symbol of Catholic resistance in Hong Kong
Although he retired in 2009, Cardinal Zen continued to openly defend democracy and religious freedom. His arrest on May 11, 2022, initially occurred under suspicions of “collusion with foreign forces,” a serious offense under the National Security Law, although he was ultimately only charged with the administrative violation.
After his conviction, he was allowed to travel to the Vatican to attend the funerals of Benedict XVI in 2023, and subsequently those of Francis in April 2025.
A process that will mark the future of the Church in Hong Kong
The court’s decision on this appeal will be key not only for Cardinal Zen, but also for the space of freedom for the Catholic Church in Hong Kong. If the conviction is upheld, many fear that it will consolidate a precedent for authorities to pursue other ecclesiastical activities.