SW News: Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun, the former trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Support Fund, appeared in a Hong Kong court today, over the charges of failing to register it as a "society" with the police, reported AFP. The now-defunct fund provided legal and medical assistance to those who participated in the 2019 pro-democracy protests in the city.

Along with four other democracy advocates who acted as the fund’s former trustees, the Asian prelate had been detained for “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” on May 11. He was charged under the new national security law and granted bail after several hours of questioning.

According to AFP, all five entered a plea of not guilty in today’s hearing, which was attended by diplomats from many European countries, including Germany, France, Sweden and Italy. The trial date has been set for September 19.

The arrest of the nonagenarian bishop emeritus of Hong Kong had sent shockwaves through the Catholic world and sparked outrage in the Western nations. Numerous high ranking officials from different corners of the globe came out in support of Cardinal Zen and expressed concern about his health and safety.

Cardinal Zen, a stalwart supporter of democracy and justice, has always strongly criticized Beijing and fiercely opposed the communist and authoritarian regime of President Xi Jinping.