Hong Kong mass protest organiser Civil Human Rights Front facing police probe over its operations
- Civil Human Rights Front has until next Wednesday to provide funding sources, expenses and related bank accounts, and reason for not registering with government
- Police also want front to explain why it was involved in joint petition last December asking UN agency to urge Beijing and Hong Kong to improve human rights
The Civil Human Rights Front has been given until next Wednesday to provide information to police, among others, on its funding sources, expenses and related bank accounts, as well as its reasons for not registering with the government.
Police have also asked the front to explain why it took part in a joint petition with other groups last December asking a United Nations agency to urge the Beijing and Hong Kong governments to improve human rights.
The force’s actions came a month after it was reported the government was seeking to outlaw the front on national security grounds. A report by Singapore newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, which quoted sources, also said the front had never registered with the government and could have breached the Societies Ordinance.
A senior police source said the force acted on complaints and asked the front to explain why it remained active despite cancelling its registration in September 2006, two months after applying to register as a society under the ordinance.