Hong Kong court orders scandal-hit Christian Zheng Sheng Association to be liquidated

A Hong Kong court has ordered the liquidation of a scandal-plagued Christian charity for failing to repay HK$61 million (US$6.8 million) granted by the government to renovate a defunct boarding school for drug addicts. In a written judgment on Monday, the High Court granted the Department of Justice’s petition to wind up Christian Zheng Sheng Association over the debt arising from a material change in board leadership after a high-profile fraud case came to light in 2024. The association is... AdvertisementHong Kong courtsHong KongLaw and CrimeHong Kong court orders scandal-hit Christian Zheng Sheng Association to be liquidatedJudge rules in government’s favour after charity failed to repay HK$61 million to public fund in the wake of a fraud scandal in 2024Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPBrian WongPublished: 3:58pm, 16 Feb 2026A Hong Kong court has ordered the liquidation of a scandal-plagued Christian charity for failing to repay HK$61 million (US$6.8 million) granted by the government to renovate a defunct boarding school for drug addicts.In a written judgment on Monday, the High Court granted the Department of Justice’s petition to wind up Christian Zheng Sheng Association over the debt arising from a material change in board leadership after a high-profile fraud case came to light in 2024.The association is known for previously operating Christian Zheng Sheng College at Ha Keng on Lantau Island to help teenagers struggling with drug addiction or on probation orders.AdvertisementEstablished in 1985, the college for recovering drug addicts ceased operations in July 2024 after police arrested four directors and froze the non-profit association’s assets over the alleged misappropriation of HK$50 million in donations.Three other wanted directors – principal Alman Chan Siu-cheuk, founder Lam Hay-sing and Chan Yau-chi – have fled the city.AdvertisementThe association replaced all of its directors after the police operation, violating a clause in a 2017 funding agreement for the college’s renovation that required the charity’s leadership to remain unchanged from the time it received financial assistance from the Beat Drugs Fund Association, a non-profit company governed by the Security Bureau.The fund demanded that the charity repay HK$59.25 million in public money, which amounted to HK$61.4 million, including interest, but the NGO ignored the repeated requests.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x