Retired Catholic leader Joseph Zen Ze Keun and four other activists have lost an appeal against their conviction for not registering their legal defense fund for those involved in the 2019 anti-government protests in Hong Kong.
The Court of Appeal on Thursday upheld the judge’s findings that the now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund fell within the definition of a community under the Societies Act and its members were required to register the group with police or apply for an exemption.
The Court concluded that the registration system is constitutional and does not impose an unacceptably harsh burden on the exercise of the right to freedom of association.
The three judges found that the fund was more than “a mere amount of money held by the appellants in trust,” as those administering it were bound by two trust documents setting out their mutual rights and obligations.
The sixth accused, treasurer Sze Ching Wei, did not appeal against his conviction and fine of HK$2,500.
The case was part of an ongoing investigation by the police’s National Security Department into the group’s alleged collusion with foreign forces to impose sanctions on Hong Kong.
