A document shows that Li Jiachao, the director of the Hong Kong Security Bureau, sent a letter to the media tycoon Li Zhiying and HSBC Bank and Citi Bank's branches this month.Penalty period.
According to Reuters, before the above -mentioned letter signed by Li Jiachao, the Security Bureau announced that it frozen a majority shares of one -pass media held by Li Zhiying and the three private company bank accounts.
A financial adviser Li Zhiying said that although the funds in the account of the account were relatively small, they represent the Hong Kong management end of the global banking relationship network covering its private wealth.
According to the three senior private bankers and lawyers of the three senior private bankers and lawyers independent of Li Zhiying's accounts, this move expands the tightening national security mechanism to the elite class of the banking system, bringing Hong Kong customers and senior financial managersrisk.
Consultants are seeking the guidance of bankers and lawyers in order to understand how to deal with the problem of freezing, and the impact of the problem of freezing on offshore assets and banking between Hong Kong management.
Lawyers, bankers, and diplomats say that given the potential influence of the New National Security Law, this operation of the Security Director has also exacerbated people's concerns about Hong Kong's widespread investment environment.
The above -mentioned financial advisory said that this move may also endanger that democratic activities have transferred offshore assets to Hong Kong and to support any attempts to support the one -media media.
One Media's stock price rose 330%after resumption of transactions on Thursday.Last week, the relevant departments frozen Li Zhiying 71.26%of the equity at that time at the time worth $ 45 million (S $ 59.54 million).
Li Zhiying has become one of the most striking targets of the Hong Kong National Security Law, facing three national security allegations, including suspected collusion with foreign countries.
The letter was sent to Li Zhiying in the Stanley Prison, which is highly alert to Hong Kong.The letter threatened that if there was any transaction to the specified assets, it would be imprisoned and fined with a maximum seven years, including asset disposal or conversion, used it as a collateral, or transferred it into Hong Kong.
The letter lists seven Hong Kong accounts related to the three companies registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
Li Zhiying is currently unable to contact Li Zhiying's comment.
The letter is listed as the first notice, pointing out that this move is based on Article 43 of the National Security Law.This rules are allowed to seize or freeze the property that "for or intended to be used for" crimes.
The letter also acknowledged that Li Zhiying and related banks had the right to obtain objections to the notification in the court and notified that it expired in May 2023.
According to a document, letters sent to HSBC and Citi also used the same word.
A spokesman for the Security Bureau said, "It can be said that endangering national security is a very serious crime." Because it has entered the judicial procedure, it is not advisable to disclose the details of action.
The Hong Kong HKMA, responsible for supervision of banks, stated that bank operators must cooperate with the criminal investigation of law enforcement agencies, including freezing assets in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. The National Security Law belongs to the relevant laws and regulations.
"The Hong Kong HKMA did not participate in criminal investigations and could not comment," said the HKMA.
The letter sent to Li Zhiying clearly stated that in addition to the permission provided by the Security Director Li Jiachao, if Li Zhiying trades these assets, it will be investigated for legal responsibilities.
The letter sent to HSBC and Citi did not indicate which bank personnel would be responsible.
A spokesman for Hong Kong Citi said that Citi does not comment on individual customers' accounts."Citi must abide by all the laws and specifications of the local market in operating business," said the spokesman.A spokesman for HSBC Hong Kong will not comment.
The letter issued to Li Zhiying also listed an account account of the Overseas Chinese Yongheng Bank at the same time, but it is not clear whether the Overseas Chinese Yongheng Bank received a similar notice.Overseas Chinese Yongheng Bank will not comment.
Li Zhiying said in May last year that most of his personal property was placed overseas because he was facing increasing pressure.
Li Zhiying's consultant pointed out that his property is scattered in Asia and all parts of North America, including commercial real estate in Taiwan, hotels in Canada, and holding a large number of US stocks.
"We are sure they are determined to kill the Apple Daily. Even if they do not try to freeze overseas assets, it is difficult to move those funds back to Hong Kong," a consultant said.
"We can now see that if the exchanges with banks are mainly concentrated in Hong Kong, it is easily affected by the National Security Law. This is a head -up for the wealth management industry and their wealthy customers," the consultant said.
Li Zhiying's consultant is worried that his overseas assets are stored in overseas accounts, but these accounts are also established and managed through Hong Kong, so there is uncertainty.
Banks and lawyers said that regulators in other jurisdictions and banks have no obligation to respond to the requirements of other countries' relevant personal accounts, especially if these requirements are irrelevant to counter -terrorism or money laundering allegations.
A private banker in Hong Kong said that private bankers in Hong Kong open overseas accounts for customers are a conventional practice.They do this mainly assume that overseas property can be protected by legal firewalls.
However, if the national security law and restrictions on the outflow of funds have weakened the outside world's confidence in this operation, it may hurt the entire industry.
"Many customers have begun to put eggs in more baskets," said an unnamed banker."The most popular capital destination is Singapore."
Li Zhiying, 73, was sentenced to 14 months in prison for participating in illegal assemblies in 2019 and is currently serving his sentence.
One Media issued a statement on Wednesday that if there is no new loan or a new capital injection from Li Zhiying, the company has enough operating funds to continue to operate at least 18 months from April 1.
