Group said to have used HK$1.3 million of donation to build kindergarten teaching in English, Cantonese and Mandarin instead of sign language
A group of deaf Hongkongers on Saturday accused a local charity of misappropriating funds and mistreating its members.
A total of 23 former members of the Hong Kong Association of the Deaf said the NGO transferred HK$1.3 million (US$166,000) of a donation to a private company that built an international kindergarten in Tai Po teaching in English, Cantonese and Mandarin instead of sign language as planned.
They claimed their association membership was revoked in November after they asked to inspect the association’s financial accounts. The misappropriated fund was part of a HK$4.6 million donation raised in 2014 and 2015, they added.
Established in 1976, the association is a charitable self-help organisation exempted from taxation under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. It represents Hong Kong at the World Federation of the Deaf, an international NGO that works closely with the United Nations.
Former association financial officer Chan Ka-wo said: “I was not allowed to see a lot of documents when we had meetings, and no one would answer my questions during the meetings.”
Chan said he was removed from his post in May without notice and expelled from the association in November.
