Hong Kong police may unfreeze charity bank account if funds used to run school

The force softened its stance on Wednesday after the new leadership of the non-profit Christian Zheng Sheng Association also adopted a more conciliatory tone by saying the school, established to help drug addicts, had cut ties with its fugitive founder and principal and the board now “trusted” law enforcement’s handling of its account.

Police said funds could be released on strict conditions.

“If the Christian Zheng Sheng Association can promise that after its account is unfrozen, its capital will be used directly on the school’s operation, such as paying staff salaries, but not on the association itself or on other areas, [then] police will be willing to cooperate,” the force said.

Siu Yu-fat, the vice-chairman of the new board of directors of the association, told the Post on Thursday that they wished to unfreeze the account and would be in touch with the government over the conditions.

But college supervisor and former director of the association Chui Hong-sheung said about HK$4 million remained and the salaries for each month amounted to HK$1 million, with the account expected to depleted after repaying four months of salaries and making the Mandatory Provident Fund contributions.