SW News: Six Hong Kongers, including Cardinal Joseph Zen and imprisoned Catholic media mogul Jimmy Lai, have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their contributions to the cause of human rights.
The nominations were made by a bipartisan congressional group led by Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey.
"Jimmy Lai, Cardinal Joseph Zen, Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, Gwyneth Ho, Lee Cheuk-Yan, and Joshua Wong were nominated because they are ardent champions of Hong Kong's autonomy, human rights, and rule of law," said the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China's press release.
 “The members of Congress hope to commemorate all individuals in Hong Kong whose bravery and tenacity in the face of oppression have inspired the globe through this nomination,” said the release.
All of the candidates have been active in the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, particularly since 2019 when widespread demonstrations against the oppressive Chinese government broke out there.
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, 91, a vocal supporter of democracy and religious freedom, served as the territory's Catholic leader from 2002 to 2009. The Cardinal was detained by Hong Kong police in May of last year and put on trial for allegedly failing to register a pro-democracy fund. He was found guilty and given a fine, which he has challenged.
Jimmy Lai is the founder of a pro-democracy newspaper and prominent government critic. The newspaper was forced to shut down after Hong Kong police raided the newspaper’s headquarters, arrested senior executives and editors, and froze its bank accounts under the pretense of  “national security. Along with Lai, the other two nominees received first prison sentences. A lawyer and former vice-chair of a civil society organization, Tonyee Chow Hang-tung was one of them.
Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, a licensed barrister and vice-chair of a now-shuttered civil society group. Authorities charged and convicted her for inciting others to join annual vigils commemorating the mass killings during the pro-democracy Tiananmen protests in 1989.
Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam, a journalist who live-streamed and was herself injured in a July 2019 mob attack in which the police’s delayed response led to widespread accusations of collusion between authorities and gang members. She is being detained on a national security charge for peacefully participating in an opinion poll ahead of an election.
Lee Cheuk-yan, a veteran labor rights advocate and former legislator. He has been sentenced for joining unauthorized assemblies and is facing additional criminal allegations on national security grounds.
Last but not least, Joshua Wong Chi-fung has previously served time in prison for his role in planning demonstrations in Hong Kong in 2014. He took part in the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong during the summer of 2019. Three pro-democracy activists, including Wong, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from their participation in an "illegal assembly" in 2019 in November 2021. They were each given prison terms of months the next month, with the prospect of additional charges.