Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow were trying to open savings and current accounts for their new party, which grew out of student group Scholarism
KC.NG@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Monday, 04 April, 2016, 8:33pm
Joshua Wong (right) and Agnes Chow faced problems in setting up a bank account. Photo: Felix Wong
Student activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung has accused HSBC of exercising “political censorship” in rejecting his request to open a joint savings account to handle the business of his political party, which will soon be set up.
Wong, formerly with the now-suspended Scholarism, also claimed the bank had rejected a bid to open a current account.
Wong claimed he and another core organiser of the new party, Agnes Chow Ting, also formerly with Scholarism, had tried to open a joint savings account at HSBC early last month to deal with donations and daily business for their new party.
“We were asked about the purpose of the joint account and we said it was for personal savings,” Wong said on Monday.
But he claimed the bank later rang him and asked about his parents, including “their names, whether they are clients with HSBC, their jobs and incomes”.
He declined to give full details because of privacy concerns and last week he was told their application could not proceed. The bank only said it was due to “administrative” and “business” reasons, according to Wong.
Wong later tried to open a current account at HSBC but was also rejected. “They just told me they could not process my application for a current account,” said Wong.
“It seems the fuss is because I am a politically sensitive person,” Wong said. “Political censorship seems to have been involved in its business considerations.”
An HSBC spokesman declined to comment, saying: “Due to our policy of confidentiality regarding issues relating to customers, we are unable to comment.”
But he added: “Applications with appropriate information and documentation will be handled according to our standing procedures.”
Wong and Chow said they would try other banks. As the last resort, Wong said he would use his personal savings account to handle donations to his party.
The allegations came as a newly launched Hong Kong independence party complained about “problems” in seeking registration by the Companies Registry. The Hong Kong National Party also claimed political considerations were involved.
Wong and Chow led Scholarism in numerous protests since the group’s launch in 2011. They suspended Scholarism’s operation last month and planned to form a new political party, which they said would advocate “Hong Kong’s self-determination”.
They are also waiting for an application for their party’s registration to be processed by the Companies Registry.
Finance sector legislator Ng Leung-sing, who is also Chiyu Banking Corporation vice-chairman, said banks would tend to be more cautious when dealing with new clients in order to follow guidelines set by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1933597/hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong-accuses-hsbc-political
