Tycoon and wife latest to deny backing protesters

Joseph Lau Luen-hung, the former chairman of developer Chinese Estates Holdings, has denied allegations that he and his wife supported the city's protesters.

In a statement released yesterday, Lau said: "My wife Kimbee Chan Hoi-wan and I have never been involved in [activities that] support the social movement, directly or indirectly."

Both born and raised in Hong Kong, the couple "have always loved the country and Hong Kong," according to the statement.

"I hope the media will be fair and avoid misleading or malicious defaming coverage," Lau said, adding that he reserves the right to pursue legal action against "fabricated" reports about him.

Rumors online allege that Lau gave hundreds of millions to triads who were allegedly behind anti-government "rioters" causing social unrest.

Lau is the latest of many high-profile figures facing similar allegations, following Alvin Chau Cheok-wa, CEO of Suncity Group, a major junket operator in Macau.

Posts on mainland social media claimed that Suncity was involved in subsidizing pro-independence activists and protesters in Hong Kong, for which it is under investigation by mainland police.

It was also alleged that the company disclosed information about its VIP clients to mainland authorities, with some people online urging customers to withdraw money from their accounts with the group.

In response, Chau released a video last Sunday denying the speculation, saying: "What are my reasons and motives for subsidizing Hong Kong rioters? This is extremely absurd."

"The group is deeply rooted in Macau and committed to our motherland. We would never support any act that damages the country," he added.

Chau also said the firm had never received requests for customer data from mainland or overseas authorities. Similar rumors have continued to spread online about more and more people, including Lau and his wife, mainland actress Fan Bingbing and entertainment company Mountain Top. All have denied the allegations.

Some consider Lau a supporter of Hong Kong protests after he filed a judicial review application against the now withdrawn fugitive bill that triggered the year-long unrest in the SAR.

But Lau later withdrew the legal challenge, saying he had no intention to target "the country or the Hong Kong government".

Lau became a fugitive after he was convicted of corruption and money laundering by a Macau court in 2014, and was jailed in absentia for five years and three months.

He has since been evading the imprisonment by not entering Macau, as Hong Kong and Macau have no mutual extradition arrangements.