Hong Kong’s national security police, who have arrested five former trustees of a now-defunct detained protester relief fund, say they uncovered “misconduct” by some lawyers and solicitors during the course of their investigation.
Among those arrested were a 90-year-old Catholic cardinal and a former lawmaker who was already serving a separate prison sentence. The police action has drawn widespread criticism abroad, which Beijing has rejected.
In a statement Thursday, police said they discovered the misconduct during their investigation into the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund. The statement stopped short of describing the type of misconduct.
“During the criminal investigation of the police, at the same time we discovered that some lawyers and lawyers, while providing legal services, allegedly committed misconduct. [Police] have filed complaints with the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Hong Kong Bar Association regarding the matter.”
In response to inquiries from HKFP, the Hong Kong Bar Association said its council will investigate the conduct of its members in accordance with established procedures if necessary, adding that all conduct investigations will be kept confidential. “The Law Society will not comment specifically on individual cases, especially those that are under police investigation or subject to court proceedings,” read a statement from society president Chan Chak-ming.
Ho arrest co
Thursday’s government statement also confirmed the arrest of the five trustees on suspicion of violating the national security law. They are accused of conspiring to collude with foreign forces by asking foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong. Collusion is a crime under the security law imposed by Beijing in 2020.
The latest arrest was that of former MP Cyd Ho, who is currently in prison for another crime related to the protests, according to local media. The other four were lawyer Margaret Ng, singer and activist Denise Ho, scholar Hui Po-keung and 90-year-old Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen.
All but Cyd Ho were released on bail. They must hand in all their travel documents and report to the police in August.
Irrelevant to religious background
The statement did not name the five, but said the arrests were made in accordance with the law, based on evidence and irrelevant to the occupation or religious background of those arrested.
The Vatican and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong expressed concern about Zen’s arrest.
“The Hong Kong Catholic Diocese is extremely concerned about the condition and safety of Cardinal Joseph Zen and we are offering our special prayers for him. We have always defended the rule of law. We trust that in the future we will continue to enjoy religious freedom in Hong Kong under the Basic Law,” the diocese said in a statement.
He also urged the police and judicial authorities to handle Zen’s case “according to justice.”
Human rights groups and foreign governments have also denounced the arrests.
“The fact that these four activists, including a 90-year-old cardinal, have been targeted for allowing legal and humanitarian support for protesters exposes the Hong Kong government’s callous disregard for the basic rights of its citizens. ”, said the regional director of Amnesty International for Asia and the Pacific. Erwin van der Borght said on Thursday.
Human Rights Watch called the arrests “a new shocking low.”
‘Defamation’ by the West
China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong responded to what it called “smear” by Western organizations and politicians of the police action.
“A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Hong Kong expresses strong disapproval and opposition, emphasizing that ‘rights and freedoms’ are not a ‘shield’ for illegal activities aimed at causing chaos in Hong Kong. [The ministry] urges the foreign forces that are intervening to immediately stop their clumsy political show full of ideological biases,” read a statement on Thursday.
HKFP has contacted the Bar Association for comment.
