The police confirmed that all five trustees of the "612 Humanitarian Support Fund" have been successively arrested in multiple districts in Hong Kong since Tuesday (10th), two men and three women, aged between 45 and 90, suspected of committing crimes against "Hong Kong". Article 29 of the National Security Law of the People's Republic of China "conspires to collude with foreign forces or endanger national security by foreign forces".
Four of them were released on bail pending investigation and must report to the police in early August.
The remaining 67-year-old arrested woman who is serving a sentence remains on remand, believed to be a former Legislative Council member and prisoner Ho Xiulan.
The magistrate has, upon the application of the National Security Service, issued notices to the arrested persons, requesting them to surrender all travel documents.
The police continued to point out that during the criminal investigation, some lawyers and barristers were found to be suspected of professional misconduct when providing legal services, and they have lodged complaints with the Law Society and the Bar Association about the situation.
One of those arrested was Barrister Wu Aiyi, a former member of the Legislative Council.
The lawyers are mainly from the FDC, Civil Rights Watch and Spark
The trustees of the "612 Fund" also include Xu Baoqiang, a former visiting associate professor of the Department of Cultural Studies of Lingnan University, Cardinal Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, Cardinal Chen Rijun, and singer Ho Yunshi.
The fund was established at the beginning of the 2019 anti-amendment campaign to provide humanitarian support to all those who were arrested (regardless of crime) or injured during the campaign, including medical expenses, psychological/spiritual counseling fees, criminal/civil legal fees, emergency financial assistance, etc.
During the period, the volunteer lawyers who participated in relevant legal support were mainly organized by the FDC, Civil Rights Monitor and Spark.
The "612 Fund" announced an orderly shutdown in August last year, and stopped accepting donations the following month.
Looking at the annual report released by the Fund in June of that year, the amount of direct support to recipients was nearly 213 million yuan; of which legal fees and lent bail accounted for 81.3%, with an amount exceeding 173 million yuan.
Police allege media smearing DHS enforcement actions
The police also applied to the court for subpoenas to accuse the five arrested persons and a 37-year-old man of failing to comply with the requirements of the Societies Ordinance, and to apply to the Societies Officer for registration of the "612 Humanitarian Support Fund" or exemption from registration.
The police pointed out that they noticed that the media smeared the law enforcement actions of the National Security Department, emphasizing that if anyone violates the law, regardless of their identity, background, occupation or religion, the police will enforce the law equally, impartially according to the law and established procedures.
612 Fund ︱ Two-year allocation of 170 million to legal aid 612 Fund case of lawyers and barristers’ professional misconduct ︱ Government: 612 Fund according to evidence, law enforcement has nothing to do with occupation or religious background ︱ The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong is extremely concerned about Chen Rijun’s safety Urge the police to be fair and reasonable in the 612 Fund︱Europe, Canada, and the Holy See concerned about the Commissioner's Office: Manic and restless due to the arrest of agents Vatican worried about Chen Rijun's arrest of "612 Fund" 4 arrested trustees were released on bail and banned from leaving Hong Kong Trustee Arrested Police: Involved in Requesting Foreign Sanctions on Hong Kong 612 Fund Case | 90-year-old Chen Rijun was arrested Guan Haoming: Chen Fei has a bad heart and hopes to be safe
