<p>At least three HSBC accounts related to a Hong Kong church that helped pro-democracy protesters during last year's unrest have been frozen, its pastor said Tuesday, the British bank's second politically-sensitive suspension in a week.</p>.<p>Fears are growing over the financial hub's banking independence after the institution, whose Asian profits are fuelled by China, suspended the accounts of exiled former Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui and his family on Sunday.</p>.<p>"The accounts are still frozen," Roy Chan, the evangelical pastor of Good Neighbour North District Church, whose volunteers aided Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters, told AFP on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The latest frozen accounts belong to the church, Chan, and his wife, the pastor said, adding they were not notified about the freeze before Monday's action.</p>.<p>Chan said in a Facebook video Tuesday he is now "living with an empty wallet" in Britain with his wife and their four children.</p>.<p>The church said in a statement later Tuesday that police officers from the city's financial crimes unit searched a second premise used by them, and requested contact with Chan.</p>.<p>The institution has appealed the suspension of the accounts in a petition addressing Peter Wong, HSBC's chief executive in the city.</p>.<p>"This is no doubt an act of political retaliation...just like the asset freezing case of the self-exiled Democrats Mr Ted Hui and his family," the church wrote.</p>.<p>It added that the closure would affect the other services -- such as its homeless shelters -- it provides to the city.</p>.<p>HSBC and Hong Kong police have not responded to enquiries from AFP.</p>.<p>The bank has tried to stay in Beijing's good graces, vocally backing the territory's controversial national security law, prompting criticism in Washington and London.</p>.<p>Activists fear democracy advocates are being targeted financially to stifle the movement that swept across the territory last year.</p>.<p>Hui, whose accounts were unfrozen and refrozen on Monday, joined a growing list of critics who have fled the city since the sweeping security law was introduced, travelling to Britain last week.</p>.<p>Police seized HK $ 850,000 ($109,000) linked to a crowdfunding campaign, accusing Hui of "money laundering" and "colluding with foreign forces".</p>
<p>At least three HSBC accounts related to a Hong Kong church that helped pro-democracy protesters during last year's unrest have been frozen, its pastor said Tuesday, the British bank's second politically-sensitive suspension in a week.</p>.<p>Fears are growing over the financial hub's banking independence after the institution, whose Asian profits are fuelled by China, suspended the accounts of exiled former Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui and his family on Sunday.</p>.<p>"The accounts are still frozen," Roy Chan, the evangelical pastor of Good Neighbour North District Church, whose volunteers aided Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters, told AFP on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The latest frozen accounts belong to the church, Chan, and his wife, the pastor said, adding they were not notified about the freeze before Monday's action.</p>.<p>Chan said in a Facebook video Tuesday he is now "living with an empty wallet" in Britain with his wife and their four children.</p>.<p>The church said in a statement later Tuesday that police officers from the city's financial crimes unit searched a second premise used by them, and requested contact with Chan.</p>.<p>The institution has appealed the suspension of the accounts in a petition addressing Peter Wong, HSBC's chief executive in the city.</p>.<p>"This is no doubt an act of political retaliation...just like the asset freezing case of the self-exiled Democrats Mr Ted Hui and his family," the church wrote.</p>.<p>It added that the closure would affect the other services -- such as its homeless shelters -- it provides to the city.</p>.<p>HSBC and Hong Kong police have not responded to enquiries from AFP.</p>.<p>The bank has tried to stay in Beijing's good graces, vocally backing the territory's controversial national security law, prompting criticism in Washington and London.</p>.<p>Activists fear democracy advocates are being targeted financially to stifle the movement that swept across the territory last year.</p>.<p>Hui, whose accounts were unfrozen and refrozen on Monday, joined a growing list of critics who have fled the city since the sweeping security law was introduced, travelling to Britain last week.</p>.<p>Police seized HK $ 850,000 ($109,000) linked to a crowdfunding campaign, accusing Hui of "money laundering" and "colluding with foreign forces".</p>