‘Deeply troubling’: China’s new low blasted as notable pro-democracy advocates rounded up in Hong Kong

China has begun a chilling new crackdown on those wanting a different future for the nation, in a move that has been labelled “deeply troubling”.

China has begun a chilling new crackdown by rounding up notable pro-democracy advocates, including one of the most senior Catholic clerics in Asia and a well-known Cantonese pop star, in a move that has been blasted as a “deeply troubling” new low.

Beijing came out swinging in defence of itself today after the arrest of a 90-year-old Catholic cardinal under Hong Kong’s national security law triggered international outrage and deepened concerns over Beijing’s crackdown on freedoms.

Retired cardinal Joseph Zen, one of the most senior Catholic clerics in Asia, was among a group of veteran democracy advocates arrested Wednesday for “colluding with foreign forces”.

Cantonese pop singer Denise Ho, veteran barrister Margaret Ng and prominent cultural studies scholar Hui Po-keung were also arrested, the latter as he attempted to fly to Europe to take up an academic post.

Cardinal Joseph Zen, barrister Margaret Ng, professor Hui Po-keung and singer Denise Ho at a press conference on August 18. Picture: Isaac Lawrence / AFP

“The persons concerned are suspected of conspiracy to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security — an act of severe nature,” said the Commissioner’s Office, which represents Beijing’s foreign ministry in Hong Kong.

The four were detained for their involvement in a now-disbanded defence fund that helped pay legal and medical costs for those arrested during the huge and sometimes violent wave of democracy protests three years ago.

China responded with a broad campaign to crush the movement and transform the once-outspoken city into something more closely resembling the authoritarian mainland.

Zen and his colleagues, who were released on bail late Wednesday, join more than 180 Hong Kongers arrested to date under the national security law Beijing imposed to stop the protests.

Those charged are typically denied bail and can face up to life in prison if convicted.

‘Deeply troubling’

Criticism came from Western nations who have accused China of eviscerating the freedoms it once promised Hong Kong could maintain.

The United States, which has previously sanctioned key Chinese officials over the ongoing crackdown, called on Beijing to “cease targeting Hong Kong’s advocates”.

Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly called the arrests “deeply troubling”. Ho, a popular Hong Kong singer and LGBTQ campaigner, is also a Canadian national.

Cardinal Joseph Zen is one of the most senior Catholic clerics in Asia. Picture: Isaac Lawrence / AFP

Denise Ho is a popular Hong Kong singer and LGBTQ campaigner. Picture: James Ross

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he was following the arrests with “great concern”, while Human Rights Watch called it a “shocking new low for Hong Kong”.

“Even by Hong Kong’s recent standards of worsening repression, these arrests represent a shocking escalation,” added Amnesty International.

The Vatican said it was concerned by Zen’s arrest and “following the development of the situation very closely”.

Arrest sends shockwaves through Hong Kong

Cardinal Zen fled Shanghai for Hong Kong after the communists took power in China in 1949, and rose to become bishop of the city.

A long-term advocate for Hong Kong’s democracy movement, he has accused the Vatican of “selling out” China’s underground Catholic church by reaching a compromise with Beijing over the appointment of bishops on the mainland.

Hong Kong’s Catholic hierarchy, including Zen’s successors, has become far less outspoken about Beijing in recent years.

The Hong Kong diocese said Thursday it was “extremely concerned about the condition and safety of Cardinal Joseph Zen”.

The arrests have sparked anger in Hong Kong. Picture: Sam Yeh / AFP

“We trust that in the future we will continue enjoying religious freedom in Hong Kong under the Basic Law,” it said in a statement, referencing the city’s mini-constitution that supposedly guarantees key freedoms.

Zen’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the city’s Catholic community. “The arrest of cardinal Zen is a blow for the entire church in Hong Kong, China and the world,” Hong Kong-based Italian missionary Franco Mella, 73, told AFP.

“It has become obvious that there is a Damocles sword above Zen and other church people.”

If you say that someone has the ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over their head, you mean that they are in a situation in which something very bad could happen to them at any time.

A church visitor on Thursday who gave her name as Laura said congregants feared mainland-style suppression of religion could be coming to Hong Kong.

“The space for religious freedom has apparently shrunk because even a Catholic cardinal is now under arrest,” she said.

Human rights groups says the arrests are a new low in China’s crackdown on free speech.

Ta Kung Pao, a nationalist newspaper that answers to Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong, published an article Thursday accusing those arrested of “six crimes”.

They included funding lobbying trips and activist meetings with British lawmakers, providing financial aid to Hong Kong “rioters” who had fled to Canada and Taiwan, and accepting donations from overseas and the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper.

But most of the alleged actions cited by Ta Kung Pao took place before the enactment of the law, which is not supposed to be retroactive.

The fund disbanded last year after national security police demanded it hand over operational details including information about its donors and beneficiaries.