The White House publicly requested the release of Cardinal Joseph Zen Wednesday, along with four others who were arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly colluding with foreign forces to endanger China's national security interests.
Zen — a retired archbishop living in Hong Kong, and one of the most senior Catholic clerics in Asia — and the others charged, were apparently detained for helping pay legal and medical fees for the 2019 pro-democracy protesters, through an organized humanitarian fund.
The 90-year-old Zen has reportedly been a long-standing supporter of democratic causes in Hong Kong and mainland China. He has also previously spoken out against China's rule under President Xi Jinping, along with the supposed persecution of Roman Catholics in China.
"Freedom of expression are critical to prosperous and secure societies," White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
"We call on ... Hong Kong authorities to cease targeting Hong Kong's advocates and to immediately release those who have been unjustly detained and charged, like the Cardinal Joseph Zen ... and others arrested today," said Jean-Pierre.
Earlier Wednesday, a legal source familiar with the situation identified the other detainees — activist and pop singer Denise Ho; senior barrister Margaret Ng; former lawmaker Cyd Ho; and former academic Hui Po-keung.
Citing media reports, Hui had been arrested at the airport Tuesday night, while Cyd Ho was already in prison for a separate case.
And according to a police sergeant on the scene, Zen was being held in Chai Wan police station, within proximity of his church residence.
The Vatican acknowledged the charge against Zen on Wednesday, and said it would be "following the evolution of the situation with extreme attention."
The arrests come three days after John Lee was named Hong Kong's new chief executive, after running unopposed in the Beijing-controlled selection process.
The now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund provided legal aid to people who participated in the 2019 protests in China.
In the aftermath, other pro-democracy activists have reportedly been arrested under the National Security Law, which was imposed on Hong Kong in 2020.
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