Hong Kong court upholds convictions of Cardinal Joseph Zen and others over protester relief fund

The Hong Kong court of final appeal has upheld the convictions of Cardinal Joseph Zen and other trustees of a 2019 protester relief fund. The appeal was filed after the defendants were initially convicted for their roles in the fund, which was established to support protesters during the 2019 anti-government demonstrations. The court's decision follows a lengthy legal process.

The defendants had argued that their actions were motivated by humanitarian concerns and that the fund was intended to provide relief to those affected by the protests. The court's ruling affirms the lower court's decision, which found the defendants guilty of failing to register the fund as a society under the Societies Ordinance. The convictions have drawn international attention.

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Nikkei Asia, Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, and AP News have all covered the story, reflecting the broader interest in the case.