(Hong Kong – May 2, 2025) Charged under the national security law, the father and older brother of Anna Kwok — a wanted Hong Kong activist currently in the United States — were recently arrested by Hong Kong police.
This represents a deeply unsettling and significant escalation of the ongoing retaliatory actions against the families of exiled activists. This disturbing operation could result in Mr. Kwok Yin-sang (68 years old) facing imprisonment under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, highlights the Beijing authorities’ abhorrent practice of guilt by association is now dangerously expanding its reach into Hong Kong. We believe this is a blatant attempt to silence overseas dissidents by targeting their family memebers at home, a tactic that brazenly disregards fundamental human rights and the rule of law.
We unequivocally condemn this outrageous act and reiterate our request for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Kwok Yin-sang by the Beijing and Hong Kong authorities, as well as the dismissal of all charges against him. We call on the Beijing and Hong Kong governments to immediately cease all harassment and intimidation of the families of Hong Kong activists. This latest incident is not an isolated case, but part of a deeply troubling pattern of intimidation that includes interrogating family members and confiscating assets belonging to relatives of other individuals wanted by Hong Kong authorities. These tactics are intended to spread fear and suppress lawful activism both within Hong Kong and internationally.
This escalation requires a unified and resolute response from the U.S. government and the international community. Governments around the world must take concrete action to hold those responsible for these violations accountable and implement effective measures to protect exiled Hong Kong activists and other critics of Beijing from such transnational repression. Strong condemnation must now be translated into tangible action, including targeted sanctions against the relevant officials, thorough investigations into the harassment activities, and the development of robust legal frameworks to protect residents and citizens from this kind of cross-border intimidation.
ChinaAid will continue to monitor the situation closely and work alongside the international community to defend the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong.
China Aid Association (ChinaAid)
