Two people jailed over offences related to the 2019 protests told HKFP their accounts with banks including HSBC and Hang Seng were cancelled without explanation. Prisoners’ rights activists said this presented yet another obstacle to former protesters’ reintegration into society.
Soon after Castor Chan was arrested and denied bail in June 2020 for possessing arms or ammunition, he gave his family his bank log-in details. However, they were unable to access the account he held with HSBC.
Chan, who was jailed for five years, told HKFP that his family enquired on his behalf but were not told why his account had been frozen. Months later, he received letters from HSBC saying it was terminating its banking services to him.
“After a comprehensive review of your account(s), we are sorry to inform you that we will no longer be able to provide you with banking services,” a letter from HSBC to Chan dated October 14, 2020, and seen by HKFP read. No explanation for the termination was provided.
Chan, who used to be a bank manager and now works in the IT sector, completed his jail term last October. He was able to withdraw his funds after his release.
He told HKFP he then tried to open accounts at at least three other banks, but his applications were unsuccessful. He was not told why. Chan was eventually able to open an account with another bank, which he declined to name in fear that his relationship with it would be affected.
Read the full report
Exclusive: HSBC closed accounts of jailed 2019 democracy protesters without providing a reason
