One of the most senior Catholic clerics in Asia, Cardinal Joseph Zen was arrested this Wednesday (11), along with three other people, and released on bail. They, who are accused of colluding with foreign forces, organized a fundraiser for detained Hong Kong protesters.
Zen, 90, a former bishop of the territory, was interrogated for hours at the Chai Wan district police station, near the church that also serves as his residence. Wearing a clerical collar, he left without speaking to the press. In a statement, local police said the department of national security had detained two men and two women, aged between 45 and 90, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Also according to the security forces, they are suspected of having requested the application of foreign sanctions. All were released on bail, but their passports were withheld under the National Security Act. A source close to the matter had told Reuters news agency that five people, not four, had been arrested in connection with the case: Zen, lawyer Margaret Ng, 74, activist and pop singer Denise Ho, former lawmaker Cyd Ho and former academic Hui Po-keung.
Zen has been a champion of democratic causes in Hong Kong and mainland China for years, and has spoken out against the growing authoritarianism under Xi Jinping’s leadership, including the National Security Act and the country’s persecution of Catholics. Hui was detained at the airport on Tuesday night, according to local media reports, while Cyd Ho was already in custody over another case.
In June 2020, Beijing imposed tough legislation that punishes what the government considers terrorism, collusion with foreign forces, subversion and secession with sentences up to life imprisonment.
Those involved in Wednesday’s arrests were organizers of the now-disbanded Humanitarian Aid Fund 612, which helped inmates in the 2019 pro-democracy protests pay fines and medical expenses.
Hong Kong is one of the most important locations for Catholics in Asia as it is home to a wide network of aid agencies, academics and missions that have helped church members in mainland China and elsewhere. The Vatican said on Wednesday it had received the news of Zen’s arrest with “great concern” and that it was following developments in the case with “extreme attention”.
Reuters was unable to contact other church representatives. The diocese of Hong Kong also did not comment on the situation of Zen and the other detainees.
