It’s solely been 4 days since a particular committee elected hardliner John Lee rule Hong Kong in Beijingwill, and the message is obvious: there will likely be no tolerance for previous or current assist of pro-democracy protesters.
The aged cleric, Cardinal Joseph Zen, was arrested as he tried to board a flight to Germany on Tuesday. Additionally arrested had been Denise Ho, 45, a beloved pop singer and actress, together with lawyer Margaret Ng and scholar Hui Po-keung. Though they had been later launched on bail, they weren’t allowed to go away the nation.
The arrest of a 90-year-old Catholic cardinal and one of many metropolis’s most well-known Cantopop singers for “collusion with international powers” is irrefutable proof that the undertaking is “one nation/ two programs” has failed and Hong Kong is now formally below China’s pro-democracy teams, mentioned Wednesday in a press release.
Professional-democracy group particularly spoke out in opposition to the pandemic as China handed a nationwide safety regulation that will enable so-called dissident residents in Hong Kong to be tried and punished in mainland China. inexperienced. Hong Kong’s return to China from British rule in 1997 marked the start of the wrestle to take care of its autonomy, which is now clearly dropping autonomy. The more and more strict laws has prompted a drastic pushback.
Zen was as soon as an ardent supporter — mentally and financially — of pro-democracy protesters, who ceaselessly protested China’s more and more harsh repression of freedoms. surname.
The Vatican has issued a press release of concern for the protection of Zen, noting that Hong Kong is historically not a part of China’s crackdown on Catholic worship. “The Holy See has realized of the information of Cardinal Zen’s arrest with concern and is monitoring the event of the state of affairs very carefully,” the press workplace mentioned in a press release on Wednesday. the press workplace mentioned in a press release on Wednesday. It’s understood that Pope Francis – who has damaged down the road between the Catholic church supported by the Communist Social gathering and the church supported by the Vatican way back – may intervene straight on Zen’s behalf.
In 2021, the Vatican severed an settlement with the Chinese language authorities that solely allowed Chinese language Catholics to worship publicly in Communist-backed church buildings. The deal means the Vatican has acknowledged the cardinals and different bishops named by the Communist occasion, one thing earlier popes have refused to do. “China will not be simple, however I consider we must always not quit on dialogue”, Francis inform the critics at the moment.
The arrest of Zen – who’s a Vatican-sponsored cardinal, not a director of the Chinese language authorities – is formally as a result of his participation within the 612 Humanitarian Aid Fund, which offers monetary help to folks dwelling in poverty. pro-democracy protesters who’ve been jailed for the previous few years. The group has been below delicate investigation by Hong Kong chief Carrie Lamb, however is now below extra scrutiny for previous and current exercise since Lee’s election.
The US State Division additionally expressed concern in regards to the arrests. Kurt Campbell, regional coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, mentioned the “grip” was worrying, telling a web-based viewers on Wednesday: “All I can let you know is me. suppose that we’re more and more troubled by the steps in Hong Kong to strain and remove civil society. ”
