#PoliticalRetaliation #BankSystem
#HSBC Freezes Assets of the Good Neighbour North District Church

Source: The Good Neighbour North District Church's Facebook #Dec7

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27161

#PoliticalRetaliation #BankSystem
#HSBC Freezes Assets of the Good Neighbour North District Church

On December 7, 2020 in Hong Kong, the accounts of the Good Neighbour North District Church, pastor Mr. Chan Hoi Hing Roy, and his wife were frozen without prior notification nor justification provided.

As a registered charity (IR No.: 91/14411) since 2016, the Good Neighbour North District Church raised funds and received donations from all legally. The act of HSBC is allegedly a political retaliation by the authorities and a sign of the erosion of the credibility of the bank system in Hong Kong.

The Good Neighbour North District Church has their one and only one bank account at HSBC. According to the church, they did not manage to set up other account at non-China funded banks in Hong Kong.

The church has been providing services to the grassroots: The "Hostel for Homeless" has been offering 30 free hostel places in North Districts since 2014. Even the government's Social Welfare Department has approached the church several times during the coronavirus pandemic, hoping to look for accommodation for the homeless.

In 2019, the group “Safeguard Our Generation” under the church offers humanitarian aid to pro-democracy protestors. At the frontline, middle-aged and elderly volunteers from the church monitored police operation and try to prevent police brutality.

The Church condemns the HSBC for "exploiting the well-established independent financial system and sabotaging the benefits of individuals and groups of Hong Kong, as well as foreign investors within the territory".

At the same time, at least 3 banks in Hong Kong has frozen the accounts of the self-exiled former lawmaker Ted Hui, his parents and wife.

The Church concluded their ststement: "Hongkongers will demonstrate their determination in saying 'NO' to injustice with what they own in hand."

Source: The Good Neighbour North District Church's Facebook #Dec7
https://www.facebook.com/1561265357501167/posts/2455525591408468/?d=n

#GoodNeighbourNorthDistrictChurch #Pastor #RoyChan #Charity #HumanitarianCrisis #SafeguardOurGeneration

#PoliticalProsecution #HumanitarianCrisis
HK Police Freeze Charity Church's Account, Arrest at Least 2 Members, Take Away a Social Work and Raid 3 Homeless Hostels

On Dec 7, 2020, the Good Neighbourhood District Church, a registered charity which provides social services and run the “Safeguard Our Generation” campaign, found that their HSBC bank account was frozen.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27161

The next day the Narcotics Bureau and Financial Investigation Police raided the church in Fanling, a branch in Kwun Tong and three homeless hostels.

The police arrested a 24-year-old former director of the church and a 37-year-old current staff, accusing them of fraud and money laundry by crowdfunding. Lau Ka-Tung, social worker and church member, was taken to the police station.

The Good Neighbourhood District Church posted at around 6pm on Dec 8, 2020 on Facebook that police raided their office in Fanling with a search warrant issued by the court. Police left at 8pm and took away with them documents as "evidence". Police also put Pastor Roy Chan and his wife on the wanted list.

Social worker Lau Ka-tung wrote on his facebook, reminding Hongkongers to "hang on".

Source: Apple Daily; Lau Ka-tung's Facebook #Dec8
https://bit.ly/36REJCm

https://www.facebook.com/108296297598557/posts/196218175473035/?d=n

#Church #LauKaTung #RoyChan #SafeguardOurGeneration #PoliceState #Retaliation

#PoliticalProsecution
HK Police Accuses Ted Hui of Money Laundering and Violating National Security Law,
#TedHui: The Regime is Imposing Economic Oppression, Political Retaliation, and Collective Punishment

Hong Kong former legislator and former member of Democratic Party Ted Hui announced to go into exile on December 3, 2020.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27077


On Dec 5, Hong Kong police suspended at least 5 bank accounts of Hui, his parents and his wife from three banks, namely HSBC, Heng Seng and Bank of China, without providing any reasons.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27130

Barristers in Hong Kong pointed out that the police have to explain why they froze these assets which involves Hui's lifelong savings of several million Hong Kong dollars.

Ted Hui clarified in his Facebook post that all crowdfunding funds are deposited in a lawyer's account, which has nothing to do with his and his family's accounts:

"As for the funds raised in the crowdfunding campaign I initiated last year for private prosecutions against police brutality, they have been deposited in the account of the lawyer's office, and the audit report has been disclosed. The funds have nothing to do with my personal and family's accounts."

Hong Kong Police claimed on December 6 that they were looking into a suspected violation of National Security Law and money laundering, accusing the suspect of embezzling the crowdfunding funds through the bank accounts of the person's relatives. They also accused Hui of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security.

As Hui said in his Facebook post earlier: "Certainly the #CCP and the SAR government can continue to condemn and accuse me, foreign politicians, and the whole world, but at the same time, the world clearly knows who is representing justice. The "Wolf-Warrior Diplomacy" will only be denounced by the world. As for the freezing of my persona and family's accounts, it is clear that the regime is using economic oppression as political retaliation, and collective punishment against my family members to persecute the opposition."

Source: Now News; Stand News; Ted Hui's Facebook #Dec6

#WolfWarrior #CCP #NationalSecurityLaw #HSBC #BankingSystem

#PoliticalProsecution #AssetFreezing
HK Police raid homeless hostels and freeze the bank account of a grassroot charity church

On December 9, 2020, the Hong Kong police raided the Good Neighbour North District church, a registered charity, in its Kwun Tong branch and searched its Fanling church.

Police officers arrested two staff members on the site and issued a wanted order to the Church’s pastor, Ray Chan Hoi-hing and his wife.

Hours later pastor Chan said #HSBC had frozen the bank accounts of him, his wife and the church.

While the Hong Kong police did not respond to a request for comment on the church incident, HSBC said it was unable to comment on matters related to specific accounts.

The church, known for actively providing humanitarian aid to pro-democracy protesters, posted on its Facebook that the freezing of their account was an “act of political retaliation”.

Pastor Chan said HSBC had become “a tool for the regime’s attempt to take political revenge via economic oppression”.

In an open letter to HSBC, the church urged the bank to unfreeze the accounts saying the HSBC accounts were their only accounts, and their freezing would lead to the termination of its hostel services for homeless people in Hong Kong.

Chan and other members of grassroots church groups were frequent attendees at Hong Kong’s mass protests, acting as peacekeepers to protect the young protesters from police violence, as well as intervening any protest violence.

They have also assisted young people going through the court system on protest-related charges.

Source: Stand News #Dec9

#NationalSecurityLaw
#GoodNeighbourNorthDistrictChurch #SafeguardOurGeneration

#PoliticalProsecution
#HumanitarianCrisis
HK Police Targets Good Neighbour North District Church, Demands Full Staff List

On December 7, 2020, the bank accounts of the Good Neighbour North District Church were frozen, one staff and one former executive were arrested.

According to Ka-Tung Lau, a social worker at the Church who has been brought to the police station for investigation, 30 staff members and 400 services for teenagers and homeless people were affected by this police action.

Lau could not comment on the financial status of the Church as he was still seeking legal advice, but he mentioned that the police asked the arrestees to provide a full staff list of the Church.

The staff now were very worried about being arrested, but they were still willing to provide church service as usual even though the Church was unable to pay their salary.

Source: Stand News #Dec11

#LauKaTung #SocialWorker
#GoodNeighbourNorthDistrictChurch #Homeless #HSBC #FrozenAccount #PoliceState

====
Related News:

#PoliticalRetaliation #BankSystem
#HSBC Freezes Assets of the Good Neighbour North District Church

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27161

HK Police Freeze Charity Church's Account, Arrest at Least 2 Members, Take Away a Social Work and Raid 3 Homeless Hostels

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27184

#FailedState #PoliticalOppression
Gov't Stops Incumbent #DistrictCouncillor's Salary and Office Income, #TedHui: Lack of Legal Basis shows the Panic of Hong Kong’s political power”

The Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR government is stopping the payroll, the allowance and the expense reimbursement of district councillor Ted Hui from December 3, 2020. The government cited Hui’s self-exile as a reason.

Hui responded to the Hong Kong government’s decision as “No legal basis at all”. He also states that his HSBC bank account has been frozen, making it impossible to withdraw any of his salary since then.

Hui said the government’s treatment of him is a political statement but should be considered useless. The government’s action is severely impacting the district councillor's office that has continued to serve Hong Kong citizens.

Hui said that the government should not stop any payment of the payroll when the councillors are still serving their term of office. He is very disappointed with how the government wields political power and ignores the public interest.

Source: Stand News #Dec16
#HSBC #DistrictCouncil

Exiled Hong Kong legislator calls for action after HSBC bank accounts frozen

Ted Hui is the latest pro-democracy figure to leave Hong Kong amid the escalating crackdown on dissent. He revealed on weekend that bank accounts belonging to him and his family had been frozen, which he labelled “political retaliation through economic oppression”.

Following an outcry, Hui said his family’s accounts were partially unfrozen late on Sunday. He said the family were moving funds to other institutions “because of their complete distrust in HSBC”, and he called on regulators to investigate and punish law enforcement officers and banking management who he accused of abusing the law.

The HSBC accounts were frozen again under police orders. Police also said Hui was suspected of “foreign collusion” over social media posts in recants days seeking international support for Hong Kong.

Hui earlier said the asset freezing reflected what banks could do “as a result of political pressure”. And this affected the credibility of Hong Kong as an international banking and finance hub.

Source: The Guardian #Dec07

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/07/exiled-hong-kong-legislator-calls-for-inquiry-after-hsbc-freezes-bank-account?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

#HongKongLegislator #TedHui #HSBC #HongKong #NationalSecurtiyLaw

#Solidarity #US
Hongkongers in New York Protest Outside HSBC Headquarters, Condemning the Bank's Aid in Political Persecution

A group of Hongkongers in the United States protested in front of the #HSBC US headquarters on Dec 20, 2020 despite the cold weather.

The participating citizens criticised HSBC for freezing the accounts of pro-democracy dissidents in Hong Kong as requested by the Hong Kong government and Hong Kong Police Force. It was worried that with the assistance of financial institutions, the basic rights of Hongkongers will be further infringed.

The protest was organised by two groups #Lausan and #LionRockCafe. The New York Committee for Human Rights in Philippines also sent a representative to give a speech.Former Secretary General of the Hong Kong Federation of Students Alex Chow showed up for support.

The protest brought attentionto the accounts of former lawmaker Ted Hui and his family, the Good Neighbour North District Church, its head pastor Chan Hoi-hing and his wife.

Lausan spokesperson suggested that HSBC participated in the political persecution in Hong Kong, and this action not only helped the Hong Kong government to retaliate at pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong; freezing the church’s bank account also directly affected the church’s service to help those in need.

Source: Apple Daily #Dec20

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201220/ANLBAAOT3BHWPEO4W4B2NVRTEA/

#FailedBank #FailedState
HSBC in Hong Kong Reportedly 'Embezzles' the Asset Owned by Exiled Lawmaker and his Family

On Jan 2, 2021, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (#HSBC) has cancelled all the credit cards under the name of Ted Hui and his family, claiming it a "commercial decision". On the onr hand, the bank charged the outstanding balance on the credit cards from their account; on the other hand, the bank claimed that it "may not be possible" to return any remaining balance, which amounts to around a few tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars, to the account holders.

According to Ted Hui, the bank asked him to "call them later and see what the bank can do about it." Hui comdemned this as the bank's unlawful embezzlement of private property which is supposed to be protected by Hong Kong’s Basic Law.

Ted Hui, a former lawmaker who is currently in exile, points out that the incident is a result of "HSBC’s own political consideration, with a view to aiding the regime to crack down on opposition voices. This deed has no legal basis at all."

It "reflects the business community’s attachment and obedience to the regime under the National Security Law, which can completely override law and policies, and the regulators can only be 'politically correct' and helpless."

Hui also stated that Hong Kong officials and their families under international sanction actually can keep their bank accounts as well as credit cards

Source: Ted Hui's Facebook #Jan2

https://www.facebook.com/178843345631203/posts/1704755799706609/

#TedHui #Asset #PoliceState

CCP Has Infiltrated All Walks of Life in UK, with HSBC and Standard Chartered Employing Over 600 Party Members

British media raises concerns about the China Communist Party (CCP) placing their members in foreign countries. Following the concern of the US intelligence on infiltration to US Democratic Party members by a Chinese spy, the British's Mail on Sunday claimed to have obtained nearly 2 million CCP members’ details, revealing that many of them are working in British academia and also in wide variation of industries, involving 79 thousand companies and their branches, such as HSBC, vaccine manufacturer Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Some of them even work in the British consulates, raising suspicions of espionage. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) issued a short statement, describe the findings as disturbing. Some Australian parliament members have called on the government to find out whether CCP spies are infiltrating the Australian system.

A large amount of CCP member in HSBC, Standard Chartered, Pfizer and AstraZeneca

The Mail on Sunday reported that information on 1.95 million suspected CCP members, including their names, date of births, addresses and phone numbers, was circulated on Telegram. In September, a Chinese dissident forwarded this information to IPAC, which composed of cross-parties European and American parliamentarians. The Mail on Sunday recently analysed the data, finding that HSBC and Standard Chartered together employed more than 600 CCP members in the UK in 2016. It also reported that these two banks have long been criticised for their stance on dissidents issues in Hong Kong. Moreover, CCP members are also found to be employed in the defence industry including Boeing, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce. As for the pharmaceutical industry, Pfizer and AstraZeneca alone have already employed 123 CCP members.

The Mail on Sunday also discovered that many CCP members are working in foreign diplomatic organisations in China via a company called "The Shanghai Foreign Agency Service Corporation", which has a Chinese official background, and at least 249 CCP members were registered with the agency in 2016. The CCP also infiltrated into academics, that according to the British policy, overseas students not from the EU or the Five Eyes network are required to have an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate to enter. But it was found that some of the CCP members have been senior researchers in the UK top universities, participating in sensitive subject such as aerospace engineering.

#China #CCP #Infiltration #IPAC #MailOnSunday #Telegram #CCPmember #HSBC #StandardChartered #Pfizer #AstraZeneca #UK #Britain #ShanghaiForeignAgencyServiceCorporation #Spies

Source: Apple Daily #Dec13

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201213/TZECVNNCEVCIHGYN7RCR5V5CRY/

Political pressure weighs on HSBC over Hong Kong activists

Carrie Lam revealed in late 2020 that she received cash for her salary after being targeted by US sanction. That not only presented a problem for Ms Lam, but also a compliance nightmare for international banks in Hong Kong.

HSBC freezing of a bank account of Ted Hui, former pro-democracy lawmaker, over the new year has shown more fraught for the banks on the compliance problems.

Lawyers say banks are increasingly incentivised to avoid offering services to any Hong Konger who could get them into hot water.

One compliance officer at an international bank in Hong Kong said employees were worried and tried to avoid having their name attached to decisions on individual accounts considered political, even attempting to get closure decisions signed off offshore. “We are all on edge,” the officer said.

Source: FT #Jan05

https://www.ft.com/content/75313efa-e44b-4f73-9cd0-41a045f62749

#HSBC #TedHui #HKActivist #HongKong

#Oppression #NationalSecurityLaw
#HSBC chief defends freezing accounts of democrats as “legally obliged”

Source: Stand News; #Jan25

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#Oppression #NationalSecurityLaw
#HSBC chief defends freezing accounts of democrats as “legally obliged”

Following thr Chinese Authorities’ imposition of National Security Law in Hong Kong, the HSBC, the city’s leading bank has been criticized for assisting the National Security Police and freezing the bank accounts of pro-democracy activists’, such as #TedHui and his family and the Good Neighbor North District Church.

In a meeting scheduled on January 26, 2021, the Bank’s CEO Noel Quinn told the Foreign Affairs Committee in the UK that the bank was "legally obliged to take action" on accounts after being notified by Hong Kong police.

In a Facebook post on January 24, 2021, former lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung, now in exile, said that he has provided the Committee with detailed information on the cases where his and his families accounts were frozen.

Ted Hui added that any bank, business or institution that assists in repressing the freedom of Hong Kong people would have to pay a heavy international price and that he would do everything possible to make them face the consequences.

In a letter to Hui in early January, Quinn explained that the bank was "forced" to freeze the accounts at the request of the police. Hui, however, rejected Quinn’s explanation, saying he “failed to provide the legal basis” for the account lockdown.

Source: Stand News; #Jan25

#UK #ForeignAffairsCommittee
#NoelQuinn #FailedBank

MPs to question HSBC chief over freezing Hong Kong pro-democracy accounts

HSBC's chief executive will be hauled in front of MPs next week to explain why the bank has frozen the accounts of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.

The bank has avoided public comments on the deepening crisis since it backed Beijing's controversial security law for the former British colony last year. HSBC's profits are heavily dependent on China.

The crackdown criminalises anti-government movements in Hong Kong, resulting in the arrest of dozens of pro-democracy figures since it was imposed last summer.

#HSBC #TedHui #Frozen #Explain #MPs

Source: Telegraph #Jan22

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/01/22/mps-question-hsbc-chief-freezing-hong-kong-pro-democracy-accounts/

Meet the Hong Kong expat proving to be a thorn in HSBC’s side

On New Year’s Day last year Hong Kong politician Ted Hui was temporarily blinded by a riot officer who lifted his protective goggles to fire a stinging pepper spray into his eyes.

Days later the 38-year-old vowed to return to the frontlines of the pro-democracy movement, calling it his duty to hold the police accountable. He refused to hold back in the months that followed, dropping rotten plants and stink bombs during council sessions in protest against new laws which suppressed democracy in the city.

Source: Telegraph #Feb14

#TedHui #HSBC #Blinded #Democracy

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/02/14/meet-hong-kong-expat-proving-thorn-hsbcs-side/

B.C. judge takes aim at heart of case against Meng Wanzhou

A B.C. judge raised questions on Thursday about the allegation at the heart of the U.S. case against a Chinese business executive facing extradition from Canada.

The United States alleges Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., committed fraud by lying in a PowerPoint presentation in 2013 to her Hong Kong bankers about the company’s relationship with Skycom Tech Co. Ltd. The purpose, the U.S. says, was to evade its sanctions against Iran.

But Ms. Meng’s legal team says the U.S. Justice Department is attempting to mislead Canada. It obtained evidence that Ms. Meng told HSBC during the PowerPoint presentation that Skycom was “controllable,” and that Huawei could therefore ensure it would comply with U.S. sanctions.

Source: The Globe and Mail #Aug06

https://tgam.ca/3fJp1gv

#Canada #HSBC #Meng #US

Canadian Media: the US Talks to Huawei about Letting Meng Wanzhou Return to China Without Mentioning the Release of the 2 Canadians

In 2018, the US alleged Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanchou involving in bank fraud and violating sanctions against Iran, and asked Canada to arrest her. After Canada arresting her, China detained two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, accusing them of espionage. Foreign media stated this as “hostage politics”.

Arrested in 2018 but still have no decision on the extradition

The event originated from the US Department of Justice, alleging that Meng Wanchou was involved in HSBC bank fraud, which made HSBC at risk of violating US sanctions against Iran. The US asked Canada to extradite Meng to the US for trial. In December 2018, Canada arrested Meng Wanchou at the request of the United States, but whether she will be extradited to the US for trial will still be subject to a hearing.

Source: Stand News #Sep19

https://bit.ly/3aGEJX0

#Canada #UnitedStates #MengWanchou #Huawei #China #Iran #Sanction #HSBC #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig #HostagePolitics

HSBC Senior Executive calls UK's Huawei Ban "Feeble" in Closed-Door Meeting

Source：Points Media, #Aug07

#HSBC #UK #HuaweiBan

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HSBC Senior Executive calls UK's Huawei Ban "Feeble" in Closed-Door Meeting

On August 7, a Bloomberg report revealed that a senior Public Affairs executive at HSBC Holding plc had criticized the British government for yielding to pressure from the US government and banning Huawei from the UK's 5G mobile communication network construction. The executive accused the British Government of being weak.

Subsequent reports from the BBC and The Guardian indicated that the executive apologized through an HSBC spokesperson, clarifying that the comments were made in a private event and do not reflect the stance of HSBC or the China-Britain Business Council.

In an earlier Bloomberg report, which cited anonymous sources, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, HSBC's Head of Public Affairs, criticized the British government during a closed-door meeting. He stated that the government often capitulates to US government pressure and complies with US appeals, such as the decision to ban Huawei from the UK's 5G network construction in 2020. This was described as a weak approach.

Source：Points Media, #Aug07

https://points-media.com/159c

#HSBC #UK #HuaweiBan