Activist’s Parent Gets Prison Term in First-of-Its-Kind National Security Case
A Hong Kong magistrate has ordered an eight-month prison sentence for the father of an exiled pro-democracy campaigner after finding him guilty under the city’s national security framework. The ruling is the first conviction of a family member related to actions linked to an overseas activist wanted by authorities under the sweeping Article 23 security law enacted in 2024.
Kwok Yin-sang, 69, was convicted of attempting to deal with financial assets belonging to his daughter, who has been labeled an “absconder” by Hong Kong law enforcement. Prosecutors said he tried to withdraw money from an education savings insurance policy purchased years ago for his daughter, a move they said violated provisions aimed at curbing support for wanted individuals.
Case Highlights New Security Law Enforcement
The daughter, a U.S. resident and head of a pro-democracy organization, has been targeted under the city’s expanded national security rules, which include a HK$1 million bounty for information leading to her arrest. Authorities say the insurance fund access was an effort to benefit a person evading justice, even though the policy was never in her name and she had no role in managing it.
In court, Kwok pleaded not guilty. The judge, however, described the offense as serious and indicative of risks to national security, noting that his actions fell within the scope of Article 23. The legislation adds broad new powers for authorities to investigate and prosecute cases involving external influence, funds and support for those deemed threats to the state.
Critics Condemn the Verdict as Repression
Rights groups and advocates have condemned the sentence as a troubling escalation in the use of national security laws, arguing it sets a dangerous precedent of penalizing relatives of dissidents. Critics say the case blurs the line between legitimate legal enforcement and intimidation of dissenting voices, raising concerns among international observers about freedom of expression and judicial independence.
The convicted father’s imprisonment underscores how far authorities are willing to extend national security enforcement, even into matters involving family and financial instruments not directly linked to political activities. Calls for review of such laws continue amid broader global scrutiny of Hong Kong’s legal environment.
