The 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, a crowdfunding platform that provides financial support to Hong Kong protesters, has all eyes on it after HSBC froze the bank accounts of exiled former lawmaker Ted Hui and his family members under police orders. Barrister Margaret Ng, a trustee of the fund, assured that measures are in place to minimize the risk of assets freezing.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Apple Daily, Ng said the number of donors has increased this month, but the amount received was only about HK$4 million (US$515,977) – far less than the HK$27 million raised in May. The turmoil over freezing of Hui’s personal accounts has triggered a chilling effect, she noted.

The fund, which was set up last year to help pay legal and medical expenses to arrested pro-democracy protesters, had only HK$170 million left in the bank by the end of October.

On spending, the total expenditure was HK$150 million, including HK$66 million for legal support. The fund has collected around HK$3 million to HK$9 million donations per month from July to October this year.

Hongkongers are very “smart,” Ng described, as they would watch out for the fund and immediately donate in times of need.

The veteran pro-democracy activist said she understood the public’s concern and criticism, stressing that “the fund will not let them down.” Clear audit records have been maintained and monitored by accountants to prevent giving HSBC excuses to freeze their funds.

Operation of the fund would remain transparent, but Ng confessed that not much can be done to prevent police from taking unreasonable actions.

In a statement published on Facebook on Thursday, the 612 Fund said they have carefully considered suggestions including starting another bank account and moving their money overseas.

The former would not help as all banks in the city have to follow the same set of rules, while the latter would not be practical as most donors and beneficiaries of the fund are in Hong Kong.

They thanked the public for their support and appealed to Hongkongers to sign up for the regular monthly donation program.

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