"Hong Kong church that helped protesters sees bank accounts frozen, allegedly in relation to crowdfunding campaign", 6 December 2020

At least three HSBC accounts affiliated with a Hong Kong Christian church have been frozen, a move the organisation called an “act of political retaliation” for its support for protesters during last year’s social unrest.

But police said an investigation into money laundering and fraud was under way, involving the Good Neighbour North District Church and how it had received HK$27 million in donations over more than a year but only publicly declared less than a third of the amount.

The church said in the early hours of Tuesday that its bank account, and those of pastor Roy Chan Hoi-hing and his wife, had been frozen without prior notification or justification.

Chan said the accounts were frozen while he and his family of five were on sabbatical in Britain, leaving them penniless.

Acting senior superintendent of the Narcotics Bureau’s financial investigation unit, Chow Cheung-yau, said on Tuesday evening that police told the bank on Monday to freeze five accounts involving HK$25 million on suspicion of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud. [...]

Volunteers of the ministry, more commonly referred to as “Protect the Children”, had attempted to mediate between protesters and police to de-escalate tensions during the protests.

“This is no doubt an act of political retaliation,” the church said in its statement, condemning HSBC. “The purge has never ceased, just like the asset-freezing case of the self-exiled [former] Democrat, Ted Hui and his family. Such [an] incident has severely eradicated dissent in Hong Kong, suppressing freedom among religions and community service workers.” [...]

An HSBC representative said it was unable to comment on matters concerning specific accounts. 

“We have to abide by the laws of the jurisdiction in which we operate,” the bank said. “Further inquiry should be directed to the related law enforcement agency.” [...]