Beijing slams EU and US for ‘foolish political show’ over criticism of Cardinal Joseph Zen’s arrest as Hong Kong Catholic diocese fears for former leader
- Hong Kong Catholic diocese says it is ‘extremely concerned’ for safety, condition of Cardinal Joseph Zen
- China’s foreign ministry accuses foreign critics of using issue of rights and freedom as pretext to upend Hong Kong
Beijing has called for the European Union and the United States to end their “foolish political show” after they criticised the arrests of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and three other opposition activists in Hong Kong, while the city’s Catholic diocese expressed deep concern for the safety of its former leader.
The response on Thursday from the Office of the Commissioner of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong came as a senior member of the Catholic diocese said Zen had instructed the religious organisation to remain low key.
“I have spoken with Cardinal Zen. He told me to let his friends know that he is fine. Not to worry. And he wants us to take a low-profile approach for him,” local bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan wrote on social media.
Arrest of Hong Kong cardinal sparks fears of wider net cast over religious groups
The ministry’s Hong Kong office hit back at Washington’s criticism of the arrest of the 90-year-old cardinal – alongside ex-opposition lawmaker Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, former Lingnan University academic Hui Po-keung and singer Denise Ho Wan-sze – for colluding with foreign forces, stressing that people who breached the law deserved to be punished “regardless of their background”.
“[We] urge external forces to stop this foolish political show filled with ideological biases,” it said in a statement.
Separately, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that Beijing “resolutely opposed” any attempt to vilify Hong Kong’s rule of law and interfere with the city’s affairs.
The four activists were released on bail on Wednesday but had their passports taken, meaning they could still be prosecuted if the force pressed charges. A fifth person, former opposition lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan, was also arrested on Thursday while in jail, where she is serving a sentence for two illegal assemblies in August 2019 and October 2019.
In response to statements from the EU and the US, a spokesman for the Hong Kong government reiterated Beijing’s stance, saying the arrests “have absolutely nothing to do with [the activists’] professions or religions”.
“No one enjoys privileges and if there is evidence that anyone has violated the law, he or she must face justice regardless of his or her status or background,” it said.
The Hong Kong Catholic diocese also issued a statement on the arrest of Zen, a leading figure in the organisation, for the first time on Thursday afternoon.
“The Catholic diocese of Hong Kong is extremely concerned about the condition and safety of Cardinal Joseph Zen and we are offering our special prayers for him,” it said.
The diocese added that it had always upheld the rule of law and trusted it would “continue enjoying religious freedom in Hong Kong under the Basic Law” in the future.
“We urge the Hong Kong police and the judicial authorities to handle Cardinal Zen’s case in accordance with justice, taking into consideration our concrete human situation,” it added, without elaborating on what situation it was referring to.
Zen, a retired bishop for the city’s Catholic diocese, has been a long-time advocate of Hong Kong’s democracy movement as well as religious freedom in mainland China.
The cardinal has accused the Vatican of sacrificing the independence of the underground Catholic community on the mainland to bolster relations with Beijing during the run-up to the renewal of a controversial 2018 agreement on the appointment of Chinese bishops.
He and the four other activists were trustees of the now-defunct 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which was established to support those involved in the 2019 social unrest, such as contributing to the legal fees of protesters. It came under intense scrutiny from authorities over the past year.
Beijing denounces ‘unreasonable’ US remarks over arrest of Hong Kong journalist
Brian Leung, executive director of the US-based Hong Kong Democratic Council, accused local and central authorities of going too far by arresting members of the now-defunct fund, which he described as an “unmistakably moderate” organisation.
“To go after them now, nine months after it ceased operation, illustrates what Mr Lee and his masters in Beijing desire: disproportionate repression against anyone who ever dared to protect what used to make Hong Kong free,” said Leung, referring to Chief Executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu.
Following the arrests of four of the fund’s trustees on Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the move showed how Hong Kong authorities “will pursue all means necessary to stifle dissent and undercut protected rights and freedoms”.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed “grave concern” on social media, stressing that fundamental rights had to be protected.
James Cleverly, the UK’s minister for Europe and North America, called the arrests “unacceptable” during a statement to the British parliament on Thursday.
But Hong Kong’s incoming leader Lee warned on Thursday that “action will be taken accordingly regardless of the person’s background” once an individual has breached the law.
Beijing’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong expressed its “strong discontent” and “resolute objection” to the remarks from foreign critics, accusing them of using the issue of rights and freedom as a pretext to upend the city.
“External forces jump out impatiently, which further exposes their angst and uneasiness of seeing the ‘political agents’ they have groomed being put before the law one after another,” it said.
