(Midland, Texas — August 26, 2025)
She fled Hong Kong, endured hardship, and finally arrived in the United States, only to lose her life in a car accident. Her four daughters will now be adopted by an American family.
This is a story that ended far too suddenly. Ka Sin “Cassie” Leung, known to many in the exile community as “Hong Kong Mom,” was a mother who left Hong Kong under political pressure. After her husband’s early death, she raised four young daughters on her own while seeking refuge. Earlier this year, with the assistance of ChinaAid, Cassie Leung and her daughters finally arrived in the United States, settling at “Mayflower Church” in Texas, a faith community providing shelter for Chinese religious refugees.
Her life seemed to be turning a new page. She had just obtained her driver’s license in August and, on the 19th, was preparing to start her first job, working part-time for packages delivery. However, that very morning, her car collided with a pickup truck. Leung passed away on the scene.
Her four daughters, in a foreign land, lost their only remaining parent.
Cassie Leung’s journey was marked by intertwined struggles of politics, faith, and motherhood. In the tense atmosphere following Hong Kong’s anti-extradition protests, she chose to leave, taking her children to Taiwan. Yet, in Taiwan, they faced issues such as visa expirations and a lack of guaranteed legal status.
With the help of Pastor Huang Chun-sheng of Jinan Presbyterian Church and ChinaAid, the family secured U.S. refugee status. Earlier this year, they arrived in Texas and joined Mayflower Church, a community of Christians who had fled religious persecution in China. Their arrival was seen as a symbol of regaining freedom after escaping authoritarian rule.
“She could finally work, learn English, and her children had also started school,” said Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid. “She always said, here, there is freedom.”
On the day of the accident, a church member was supposed to go to work with Leung. When she did not show up and failed to answer calls, the church began contacting members, including Pastor Bob Fu.
At first, Pastor Fu thought it might be an administrative misunderstanding. “I said their status was fully legal; it’s impossible she was taken away,” he recalled. “But my heart sank, could it have been a car accident?”
Hours later, they received information: Leung’s car was in a collision on the highway. She died at the scene.
“I just broke down crying in the car,” Pastor Fu said.
Currently, an American family has taken temporary guardianship of Leung’s four daughters and is beginning adoption proceedings in accordance with the law. Once the adoption is complete, the girls are expected to receive U.S. citizenship fairly soon. ChinaAid’s foremost concern is to ensure the sisters remain together and continue growing in a faithful and stable environment.
Leung’s death has drawn wide attention. ChinaAid announced the creation of the “Hong Kong Mom Fund,” dedicated solely to the education and living expenses of the four children. As of Monday morning, donations had surpassed $340,000, coming from the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and beyond.
The association plans to establish a special committee to ensure transparency and sustainability of the fund, pledging that no donations will be diverted elsewhere.
At Leung’s memorial service, the four girls shared memories and remembrance of their mother. Attendees said the children displayed remarkable maturity and strength despite their grief.
“Her faith and her motherly love held this family together,” Pastor Fu said. “She is gone, but her daughters will carry on her story.”
Under the Texas sun, it was a life of freedom barely begun before it was suddenly cut short. Yet Leung’s children continue this journey, walking toward the future she fought so hard to give them.
Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai for ChinaAid
