$259m raised to aid protesters

The 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund had raised at least HK$259 million by July before ceasing operation after October.

Named after a day of clashes between police and protesters on June 12, 2019, the fund was established on June 15 that year to provide legal, medical, psychological and emergency financial assistance to those who were injured, arrested, attacked or threatened with violence during the anti-fugitive bill protests.

According to its annual report dated June 2021, over 22,900 people had received direct support and services from the fund, including legal fees and loans for bail, medical and psychological counseling expenses, supplies for persons on remand or in custody as well as emergency financial relief. Around 2,554 people had been making monthly donations to the fund, as of May 31.

But the fund announced that it would shut down in "an orderly manner" on August 18, as it will no longer have a bank account to use after its trustees were notified by the Alliance for True Democracy - the group whose bank account is used by the fund under a custodian agreement - of plans to wind up.

Since its announcement to stop operation in August, the fund had raised another HK$5.71 million as of September 3 through crowdfunding, compared to the original target of HK$25 million to cover the expenses before winding up.

It also received HK$580,000 of refund in August.

The fund stopped receiving new applications from August 18 and stopped allocating funds from September 6. Its secretariat was disbanded on October 31.

Subsequent to the fund's August announcement, national security police launched an investigation against on September 1, on suspicion of breaching the law.

Officers also demanded the fund hand over operational details including information about donors and beneficiaries of the more than HK$259 million.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung has said the police had received a reply from the fund and officers would conduct follow-up actions based on the reply.

Tang also said anyone who donated money when they know it could be involved in law-breaching activities may have to bear legal responsibility.