On Thursday, a Hong Kong court upheld the convictions of Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other prominent activists. The case centers on the '612 Humanitarian Relief Fund,' an organization established to assist individuals arrested during the widespread anti-government protests that gripped the city in 2019. The fund provided financial support for legal fees, medical expenses, and psychological counseling for those detained during the unrest.

Cardinal Zen, a former bishop of Hong Kong, and his co-defendants were originally convicted in 2022 for failing to register the fund under the Societies Ordinance. While the defendants argued that the fund operated as a charitable organization and did not require formal registration, the court maintained that the failure to comply with registration laws warranted the penalties. The fund was disbanded in 2021 following increased pressure from authorities and the implementation of the National Security Law.

The case has drawn significant international attention, with human rights organizations and religious groups frequently citing the prosecution as evidence of a shrinking space for civil society and religious freedom in Hong Kong. Conversely, the Hong Kong government and judicial authorities have consistently maintained that the prosecutions are strictly matters of legal compliance and that the rule of law is being applied equally to all citizens regardless of their political or religious status. The court’s decision to uphold the convictions marks the final stage of the legal challenge for the group, who were previously fined for the administrative oversight.