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A Hong Kong court sentenced Kwok Yin-sang, the father of U.S.-based activist Anna Kwok, to eight months in prison on Thursday (February 26) under the city's national security law. This marks the first case against a family member of a pro-democracy activist wanted by Hong Kong authorities. Kwok Yin-sang, 69, was convicted earlier this month for attempting to withdraw funds from an insurance policy he bought for his daughter when she was a toddler.
Anna Kwok, 29, is the executive director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council. She is among 34 overseas activists wanted by Hong Kong authorities, who have issued a bounty of 1 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately $128,000) for her arrest. The court found Kwok Yin-sang guilty of handling financial assets belonging to an "absconder," a violation under Article 23 of Hong Kong's national security law. The law, enacted in 2024, criminalizes providing financial support to individuals wanted by authorities.
In court, Magistrate Andy Cheng stated that the case had nothing to do with family ties and emphasized that there is no "collective punishment." However, Anna Kwok criticized the ruling as "transnational repression," describing it as a move to silence dissent and intimidate activists. She expressed her frustration, stating that her father was convicted under the guise of national security and that the charge was "ridiculous" since she had no control over the insurance policy.
The case has drawn international attention, highlighting the broader crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong following the massive anti-government protests in 2019. The U.S. and U.K. governments have condemned the bounties placed on overseas activists, and Washington sanctioned several Chinese and Hong Kong officials involved in the repression.
Despite the challenges, Anna Kwok remains committed to her advocacy work, determined to show others that they can continue to fight for Hong Kong's autonomy. "They want to use this as a way to silence everyone," she said, "but I see it as my role to show people that you can still move forward."