Hong Kong lawmakers take financial services chief to task over fund that supported anti-government protesters
- Minister Christopher Hui questioned over why authorities did not act sooner against 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund
- Hui dismissed calls for government to act against what lawmakers called suspicious crowdfunding
Hong Kong’s financial services chief has dismissed lawmakers’ suggestions he did not act quickly enough against a fund set up to help anti-government protesters.
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu was questioned by pro-establishment legislators about the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which has paid out more than HK$243 million (US$31.2 million) to those facing criminal prosecution or financial hardship as a result of the 2019 unrest.
In response to a demand for a timetable on enacting tougher laws against what lawmakers called suspicious crowdfunding, Hui said the government would continue to monitor the situation.
“We will look at [the fund] from the view of the purpose, not just the format or means of crowdfunding … I cannot just give you an empty timetable [for legislation] right now,” he said.
Lawmaker Elizabeth Quat suggested there had been a “delayed reaction” to the fund by authorities, and questioned whether legislation targeting other non-profit organisations that opposed the government could be passed.