Hong Kong Misuses Colonial-era Law to Violate Rights

Click to expand Image Former trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, following a verdict at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong, November 25, 2022. © 2022 Lam Yik/Bloomberg via Getty Images Organizing a group to help people in distress used to be something Hong Kong people could do without fear. Not anymore. On September 3, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction of five 612 Humanitarian Fund trustees for failing to register the fund under the Societies Ordinance. It’s just the latest example of the government weaponizing colonial-era laws to dismantle civil society organizations. The 612 Fund was established in 2019 through public donations to cover medical and legal expenses for demonstrators arrested during the pro-democracy protests. It ceased operations in 2021. The following year, its five trustees—including Cardinal Joseph Zen, the barrister Margaret Ng, and the singer Denise Ho—were fined HK$4,000 (US$510) for failing to register as a society. Separately, they were also arrested under the newly adopted National Security Law for alleged “foreign collusion”; that case remains open. The ruling has serious rights implications for organizations