Police in Hong Kong have made headlines by arresting the father and brother of Anna Kwok, a pro-democracy activist currently based in the US, for allegedly assisting her with financial matters. This marked the first instance of authorities charging relatives of an "absconder" under Hong Kong’s national security law, as reported by Reuters. The 26-year-old Kwok has been accused of violating national security provisions related to her involvement in pro-democracy protests in 2019 before she fled the region in 2020.
Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) in Washington, DC, Kwok has drawn the ire of Hong Kong authorities. It was reported that police apprehended a 68-year-old man and a 35-year-old man suspected of managing "funds or other financial assets" belonging to Kwok. Local media outlets identified these men as her father, Kwok Yin-sang, and her brother.
According to reports by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the investigation into the two began after police monitored their activities, which included meetings with Kwok abroad. Allegations against her father include attempting to obtain her life and personal accident insurance policy to access funds on her behalf. He was denied bail during his court appearance, handled by national security judge Victor So. The brother has been released on bail while investigations continue.
Under the Safeguarding National Security Bill, it is illegal to provide any form of financial support to "absconders," those who have fled the territory under legal duress. The Hong Kong government previously announced bounties for several activists, including Kwok, who face severe charges of colluding with foreign forces—a crime punishable by life imprisonment. Kwok condemned this tactic as an attempt to intimidate her and other activists, reflecting the declining freedoms in Hong Kong since its transition to Chinese rule in 1997.
