The May arrest of 90-year-old Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen put Hong Kong’s religious community on edge. On Nov. 25, Zen and five others were found guilty of failing to register a now-defunct fund to support pro-democracy protesters. The verdict resulted in an HKD 4,000 fine (a little over $500), but Zen’s ordeal is far from over. More serious accusations under the city’s draconian National Security Law (NSL), for which official charges are yet to be filed, could put him in jail for the rest of his life.
Known as the “new conscience of Hong Kong,” Cardinal Zen has been a consistent champion of human rights and dignity for the people of both Hong Kong and mainland China. The accusations against him are not explicitly related to his role in the Catholic Church. Rather, like other prominent figures arrested under the NSL imposed on Hong Kong by the Chinese regime in 2020, his May arrest was due to his criticism of Beijing and open support of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. Like many other victims of the NSL, he is accused of the vague crime of “colluding with foreign forces” and will be prosecuted outside Hong Kong’s common law legal system, with no expectation of a fair trial.
On paper, Hong Kong is still a bastion of religious freedom. The city’s faithful continue to attend churches, mosques, and temples, albeit with some restrictions due to COVID-19. Christian missionaries continue to preach openly in the former British colony.
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This piece originally appeared in The Federalist on December 1, 2022. The rest of the piece may be viewed here.
