#612HumanitarianFund #NationalSecurityLaw
612 Fund Trustees and Secretary Plead Not Guilty for "Non-registered organisation" Charge
Five trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which stopped operation last year, was arrested by National Security police earlier and were accused of "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces or foreign forces". They were were all granted bail, pending investigations.
The five trustees are: Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun (90 years old), a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, Dr. Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee (74), a practising barrister, Dr. Po-Keung Hui, a former Adjunct Associate Professor in the Departure of Cultural Studies at the Lingnan University, Cyd Ho Sau-Lan (67, currently serving another protest-related sentence), a former LegCo member, and singer Denise Ho (45).
The trustees, as well as Sze Ching-Wee, the fund’s secretary, were accused of "failing to apply for registration or exemption from registration within the specified time" under the Society Ordinance and were on trial at West Kowloon Magistrates' Court this morning (23th).
All six defendants pleaded not guilty, and a hearing is scheduled for Sept 19-23.
Barrister Robert Pang, who represented the six, criticized the persecution for expanding the list of witnesses from 9 to 17 at the last minute. He also raised the legal question of whether the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund could be considered a "society", and said that this is the crux of the entire case.
Margaret Ng, one of the accused and also a veteran barrister, criticized the prosecution's lack of preparation: "Could you give us another copy of the brief facts? There's five of us, and we're sharing one copy." She also criticized the Department of Justice (#DOJ) for such an unprepared prosecution: "They only sent these [documents] to us right before court!"
When Cardinal Zen stepped out of court afterwards, supporters shouted encouragements to him: "Cardinal, hang on!" "Cardinal, take care!" "Cardinal, peace be with you!"
Source: Inmedia #May24
https://bit.ly/39PI5JO
https://bit.ly/3MI5WtL
612 Fund Trustees and Secretary Plead Not Guilty for "Non-registered organisation" Charge
Five trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which stopped operation last year, was arrested by National Security police earlier and were accused of "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces or foreign forces". They were were all granted bail, pending investigations.
The five trustees are: Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun (90 years old), a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, Dr. Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee (74), a practising barrister, Dr. Po-Keung Hui, a former Adjunct Associate Professor in the Departure of Cultural Studies at the Lingnan University, Cyd Ho Sau-Lan (67, currently serving another protest-related sentence), a former LegCo member, and singer Denise Ho (45).
The trustees, as well as Sze Ching-Wee, the fund’s secretary, were accused of "failing to apply for registration or exemption from registration within the specified time" under the Society Ordinance and were on trial at West Kowloon Magistrates' Court this morning (23th).
All six defendants pleaded not guilty, and a hearing is scheduled for Sept 19-23.
Barrister Robert Pang, who represented the six, criticized the persecution for expanding the list of witnesses from 9 to 17 at the last minute. He also raised the legal question of whether the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund could be considered a "society", and said that this is the crux of the entire case.
Margaret Ng, one of the accused and also a veteran barrister, criticized the prosecution's lack of preparation: "Could you give us another copy of the brief facts? There's five of us, and we're sharing one copy." She also criticized the Department of Justice (#DOJ) for such an unprepared prosecution: "They only sent these [documents] to us right before court!"
When Cardinal Zen stepped out of court afterwards, supporters shouted encouragements to him: "Cardinal, hang on!" "Cardinal, take care!" "Cardinal, peace be with you!"
Source: Inmedia #May24
https://bit.ly/39PI5JO
https://bit.ly/3MI5WtL
Congressional-Executive Commission on China (#CECC) published a statement in mid-July, urging Biden to sanction 15 named #NSL prosecutors and the new Secretary of Justice.
Hong Kong government strongly condemns the "threats" as "reasonable bullying acts", claiming the CECC violates international principles.
#Sanction #DOJ #GoHKgraphics
Hong Kong government strongly condemns the "threats" as "reasonable bullying acts", claiming the CECC violates international principles.
#Sanction #DOJ #GoHKgraphics