According to media reports, Hong Kong’s national security authorities detained Cardinal Joseph Zen, one of Asia’s most prominent Catholic clergy, and four others who helped operate a now-disbanded humanitarian fund for demonstrators on Wednesday.
According to a legal source acquainted with the situation, five persons, including Zen, have been detained.
Zen has long been a supporter of democratic movements in Hong Kong and China, and has spoken out against President Xi Jinping’s rising authoritarianism.
According to media sources, Hui was arrested at the airport on Tuesday night for alleged “collusion with foreign forces,” while Ho is already in prison for a separate matter. According to reports, Zen and the others were charged with the same offense.
The five were trustees of the “612 Humanitarian Relief Fund,” which assisted demonstrators detained during pro-democracy, anti-China rallies in 2019 with legal and medical expenses.
Zen and the others could not be reached for comment immediately. The Hong Kong Catholic Diocese, the Vatican, and the Hong Kong police all declined to respond immediately.