Cardinal Joseph Zen, 90, begins trial in Hong Kong on charges of foreign collusion

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 90-year-old former archbishop of Hong Kong, begins his formal trial after having been arrested in May for allegedly colluding with foreign forces.

The five were specifically charged with not registering a now-defunct relief fund used to bail out protesters and pay the legal fees of Hong Kongers who demonstrated in 2019 against a controversial bill allowing extradition to mainland China.

In addition to Zen, others on trial include Barrister Margaret Ng, singer-activist Denise Ho, scholar Hui Po-keung, former legislator Cyd Ho and activist Sze Ching-wee, who served as the fund’s secretary general before it shut down last October. All five submitted pleas of not guilty. Zen has been out on bail since May 11.