Social Groups Demand Release Of Church Funds

More than two dozen social welfare groups and unions on Wednesday called for an end to a freeze on bank accounts linked to a church whose volunteers attempted to mediate between police and anti-government protesters during last year's unrest.

Police accuse Good Neighbourhood North District Church of fraud and money laundering, saying it only disclosed less than a third of HK$27 million it raised through crowdfunding between June last year and September this year.

The church denied any wrongdoing, saying its accounts are audited annually. A church employee and a former director were arrested and subsequently released on bail.

Police said the church's secretary and director are wanted in connection with the investigation. The two are pastor Roy Chan and his wife, who have been in Britain since October.

In a statement, the groups said the case could lead to the impression that local churches are being suppressed.

"This case....as well as the recent freezing of bank accounts of [former lawmaker] Ted Hui and his family, make fellow social workers worry that in future, maybe the freezing of bank accounts would become a norm," they wrote.

"They worry about whether they would touch red lines when they raise funds going forward."

Chan earlier said the freezing of the church's bank accounts had affected their volunteer services, and rendered them unable to pay the rent for their hostels for the homeless, as well as salaries for social workers.

The groups said the church's accounts should be unfrozen as soon as possible, so that the needy can get the necessary services.