The Hong Kong police have arrested the father and brother of pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok, marking a significant escalation in the application of the territory's national security law. The two men are accused of assisting Kwok financially, raising concerns about the widening scope of the authorities' crackdown on dissent.
Hong Kong Police Target Family of Pro-Democracy Activist Under New Security Laws
Hong Kong Police Target Family of Pro-Democracy Activist Under New Security Laws
Arrests mark the first case of family members facing charges related to national security violations in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong police have reportedly arrested the father and brother of pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok for alleged involvement in her financial affairs. This marks the first instance of relatives being charged as part of the enforcement of the territory's controversial national security law.
According to media sources, law enforcement officials apprehended two men, aged 35 and 68, who are suspected of helping Kwok, a US-based activist, manage funds for her activities. The arrests come in the wake of Kwok's previous engagement in pro-democracy protests in 2019, which prompted her successful flight from Hong Kong in 2020. She now works as the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) in Washington DC.
The police investigation allegedly stemmed from observed meetings between the two men and Kwok. Reports suggest that the elder man, identified as Kwok Yin-sang, may have been attempting to access his daughter's insurance policy. This action is perceived as a bid to manage her financial resources while she operates overseas.
Hong Kong's national security judges have refused bail to Kwok Yin-sang, while his younger counterpart has been released under bail conditions as the investigation continues. The legal actions against the Kwok family come amidst a broader campaign in 2023, where Hong Kong authorities placed bounties on several pro-democracy activists—Kwok among them—accusing them of colluding with foreign forces, a charge that carries severe penalties.
In an interview following the bounty announcement, Kwok labeled the measures as intimidation tactics by the Hong Kong government and the Chinese Communist Party aimed at silencing dissenters.
Originally a British colony, Hong Kong has seen its freedoms erode since its transfer to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. While it retains some level of autonomy, many observers note a significant decline in civil liberties, raising alarms among human rights advocates globally.
