“HSBC, Manulife decline comment after report that wanted activists barred from accessing pension funds” 23 July 2024

Financial institutions HSBC and Manulife have declined to comment on a report that two overseas Hong Kong activists wanted under the security law, former lawmaker Ted Hui among them, were blocked from accessing their pension funds.

In response to HKFP, HSBC and Manulife said they did not comment on individual cases and that the companies adhered to local legislation.

“We have to abide by the laws and regulations of the jurisdiction in which we operate,” a spokesperson from HSBC said.

Hui, who was a lawmaker for four years before resigning in protest with other pro-democracy legislators in 2020, is now based in Australia...Hui is wanted under the national security law, with police offering HK$1 million for information leading to his arrest...

According to the Guardian, the second activist included in its report is also wanted under the security law... The activist, who is said to have permanent residence in Australia, told the Guardian that he tried to withdraw his pension savings of over HK$600,000 last November. He said he was notified in March that he could not do so because his account was being investigated...

Regarding the second activist, Manulife said: “We do not comment on individual cases. Manulife complies with all laws and regulations in the jurisdictions we operate in.”...