In a significant escalation of Hong Kong's crackdown on pro-democracy activism, police have arrested the father and brother of Anna Kwok, who is currently based in the United States. The arrests, reported by Reuters, are the first targeting the family of an "absconder" under the controversial national security law. The authorities allege that the two men were involved in managing Kwok's finances.
Anna Kwok, who is 26 and serves as the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council in Washington, fled Hong Kong in 2020 after participating in pro-democracy protests. The two men, aged 35 and 68, reportedly met with Kwok while she was abroad, leading to police scrutiny. The father, Kwok Yin-sang, is accused of attempting to access his daughter's life insurance policy for financial gain. A national security judge has denied him bail, while his son has been released pending further investigations.
This incident follows a 2023 announcement from Hong Kong authorities placing bounties on multiple pro-democracy activists, including Anna Kwok, with accusations of colluding with foreign forces—an offense that could result in life imprisonment. Kwok condemned this action as an intimidation tactic employed by the Hong Kong government and the Chinese Communist Party, aimed at silencing dissent. As Hong Kong continues to navigate its status as a special administrative region, concerns about declining freedoms persist.
