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Exiled Hong Kong politician claims HSBC froze account
A former Hong Kong legislator says his bank accounts in the city were frozen after he went into exile in Britain with his family. Former legislator and democracy activist Ted Hui says the accounts belonged to him, his wife, and his parents at various banks, including HSBC. Hui faces criminal charges linked to anti-government protests in Hong Kong last year. Hong Kong police said late Sunday that they were investigating a Hong Kong person, who had fled abroad with frozen bank accounts, on suspicion of money laundering and possible violation of the new national security law. It was not immediately clear whether the police were referring to Hui. On Facebook, Hui said that some of his bank accounts had been unfrozen and that he had moved funds quickly from HSBC because he no longer trusted the global bank. In response, HSBC said it was disappointed to see that the circumstances were “misrepresented,” but did not elaborate. A spokesperson also added that “we have to comply with the laws of the jurisdiction in which we operate.” Hong Kong is HSBC’s largest market, but the bank found itself in the crosshairs of pro-democracy protests there, with some protesters accusing HSBC of being complicit with the authorities against activists. Hui resigned from the city’s Legislative Council last month in protest after Beijing gave the city the power to expel four of his fellow legislators on national security grounds. Lawmakers called it a push from Beijing to crack down on democracy in the former British colony. Hui has urged Hong Kong and international financial regulators to investigate his case.
