Hong Kong national security law: secretary of now-defunct legal fund for protesters arrested at airport while leaving city

The SCMP

  • Sze Ching-wee, 38, secretary of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, believed to be sixth person detained in case
  • Arrest comes after completion of Sze’s trial over breach of Societies Ordinance, also linked to fund

Hong Kong’s national security police have arrested the secretary of a now-defunct legal fund set up to help those involved in the anti-government protests of 2019, the sixth person in the case to be detained on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces.

Sze Ching-wee, 38, secretary of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which has come under intense scrutiny by authorities over the past year, was stopped at the airport on Saturday as he was leaving the city, the Post learned.

A police spokesman confirmed the arrest without identifying Sze.

He was later released on bail pending investigation and must report to the force in early February, the spokesman said.

(From left) Cardinal Joseph Zen, Margaret Ng, Hui Po-keung and Denise Ho at a press briefing last year to announce the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund will cease operations. Photo: Edmond So
(From left) Cardinal Joseph Zen, Margaret Ng, Hui Po-keung and Denise Ho at a press briefing last year to announce the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund will cease operations. Photo: Edmond So

Trustees of the fund – 90-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, ex-opposition lawmaker Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, singer Denise Ho Wan-see, and former Lingnan University academic Hui Po-keung – were arrested for the same offence in May.

Hui was intercepted at the airport while he was about to board a flight to Germany.

Former opposition lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan, also a trustee, is facing similar charges while in jail for her role in illegal assemblies.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3198802/hong-kong-national-security-law-secretary-now-defunct-legal-fund-protesters-arrested-airport-while