Hong Kong police arrest 10 linked to fund for pro-democracy protesters

Doug Cunningham
·2 min read
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Hong Kong police Thursday said they have arrested 10 pro-democracy activists for alleged conspiracy to endanger national security. They were active in a now-defunct fund that supported 2019 protesters seen in this photo demonstrating against a proposed extradition law. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
Hong Kong police Thursday said they have arrested 10 pro-democracy activists for alleged conspiracy to endanger national security. They were active in a now-defunct fund that supported 2019 protesters seen in this photo demonstrating against a proposed extradition law. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Hong Kong police Thursday arrested four men and six women linked to a fund that helped protestors during the pro-democracy protests that swept the island in 2019.

Police said the 10 people arrested were allegedly active with the now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund that got donations from various overseas organizations to support "people who have fled overseas or organizations which called for sanctions against Hong Kong."

The suspects aged 26-43 were accused of violating Hong Kong's National Security Law, and inciting a riot by "conspiring to collude with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security."

In addition to the arrests, police said they searched the suspects' homes and places of work and seized "relevant documents and electronic communication devices."

Among those arrested was pro-democracy Hong Kong Freedom Party activist Bobo Yip, a former secretary of the Justice & Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese.

Protesters carry flags of the United Nations, Great Britain and other countries during an anti-government rally in Hong Kong on Sept. 29, 2019. Police arrested 10 democracy activists Thursday who had supported 2019 protesters by working with the now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
Protesters carry flags of the United Nations, Great Britain and other countries during an anti-government rally in Hong Kong on Sept. 29, 2019. Police arrested 10 democracy activists Thursday who had supported 2019 protesters by working with the now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

The relief fund was used to support 2019 pro-democracy activists who were demonstrating against a law allowing extraditions to mainland China.

In June of 2019 organizers estimated a million people turned out for the protests in Hong Kong. The protests, some including violence, continued for about a year. The extradition bill was stopped.

A man gives a thumbs up and holds up five fingers, a symbol of the city's protest movement, at a rally in Hong Kong on Sunday, September 15, 2019. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
A man gives a thumbs up and holds up five fingers, a symbol of the city's protest movement, at a rally in Hong Kong on Sunday, September 15, 2019. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI

Five former trustees of the fund, including 90-year-old Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, were found guilty in November 2022 of failing to register the fund and fined.

In July Hong Kong police announced arrest warrants for eight self-exiled prominent pro-democracy activists charged under the controversial national security law. Police allege the exiled activists are endangering "national security" by calling for sanctions on China over the law.

Hong Kong authorities are also seeking to restrict distribution of the popular protest song "Glory To Hong Kong", which was rejected by Hong Kong's High Court.

Hong Kong appealed that decision Monday in Hong Kong's Court of Appeal.