Five prominent pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong—Cardinal Joseph Zen, barrister Margaret Ng, former lawmaker Cyd Ho, scholar Hui Po-keung, and singer-activist Denise Ho—have escalated their legal battle over a fund connected to the 2019 protests. The group was previously convicted of failing to properly register the “612 Humanitarian Relief Fund,” which supported legal fees and other assistance for those arrested during the demonstrations. Following a recent loss in their appeal, they have now brought their case before Hong Kong’s highest court. The defendants argue the fund was not a legal entity requiring registration, and their prosecution is politically motivated. The 2019 protests were some of the largest and most disruptive in Hong Kong’s history, triggered by a controversial extradition bill. This latest appeal represents a significant challenge to the ongoing crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong.