Hong Kong police have taken into custody the father and brother of pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok, reportedly investigating them for their alleged roles in supporting her financially from abroad. This action represents an unprecedented instance of family members of an exiled activist being charged under the contentious security law enacted in Hong Kong.
Anna Kwok, aged 26, became a prominent figure during the pro-democracy protests of 2019 and subsequently fled Hong Kong in 2020. Now serving as the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) in Washington, D.C., she has faced accusations of violating national security legislation. The Hong Kong police stated that they arrested two men, aged 35 and 68, suspecting them of managing funds associated with Ms. Kwok.
According to local media reports, the older suspect is Ms. Kwok's father, Kwok Yin-sang, who allegedly attempted to access his daughter's insurance policies upon returning to Hong Kong. He has been denied bail by a national security judge, while the younger suspect, Ms. Kwok's brother, has reportedly been released on bail as the investigation continues.
The legal ramifications stem from the Safeguarding National Security Bill, which criminalizes the act of financially supporting individuals deemed absconders under the law. This legislation has tightened the grip on dissent in the city, becoming a tool for the authorities in their crackdown on pro-democracy advocates.
The ongoing campaign against pro-democracy activists escalated in 2023 when Hong Kong authorities placed bounties on several figures in exile, including Kwok, accused of conspiring with foreign entities. Critics, including Kwok herself, described the bounties as attempts to instill fear and silence opposition.
Since its establishment as a Special Administrative Region of China in 1997, Hong Kong has maintained certain freedoms, though many observers believe these liberties are increasingly eroded under Beijing's influence. The latest arrests serve as a stark reminder of the climate of fear surrounding advocates for democratic reform in the territory.
