Buddhists distance themselves from HK monastery

Hong Kong's Buddhist leaders have denied that a monastery at the center of snowballing allegations involving sham marriages and millions in embezzled funds was one of their own, noting few rules and fewer regulations govern the city's numerous Buddhist institutions and practitioners.

The Hong Kong Buddhist Association said the nearly 100-year-old Ting Wai Monastery and embattled former head abbess Sik Chi-ding were not members of the group - which claims more than 30,000 members and operates more than two dozen schools, child and elderly care centers and a 285-bed hospital in the city.

The city's biggest Buddhist group said it was deeply concerned over allegations of sham marriages between two monks and a nun for visas and misappropriated funds that have been levied at Ting Wai Monastery head abbess Chi-ding, and the group was sad to learn fellow Buddhists may have run afoul of the law.