Father of pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok first to be convicted under Hong Kong national security law | Hong Kong
A Hong Kong court has found the father of a wanted activist guilty of a national security breach after he tried to terminate his insurance policy and withdraw the money, drawing international criticism for targeting relatives of pro-democracy campaigners.
Kwok Yin-sang, 68, became the first person to be charged under the national security law, also known as Article 23, for “attempting to directly or indirectly deal with any funds or other financial assets or economic resources” belonging to a fugitive.
His daughter, Anna Kwok, helps lead the Washington-based advocacy group Hong Kong Democracy Council and is one of 34 overseas activists wanted by Hong Kong national security police. He is accused of colluding with foreign powers, and police have offered a reward of HK$1 million ($127,400) for his arrest.
Kwok Yin-sang was accused of trying to withdraw funds totaling HK$88,609 ($11,342) from an education savings insurance policy he had purchased for himself when he was almost two years old. He stated that he did not admit the crime and did not testify at the hearing.
Acting chief magistrate Cheng Lim-chi said that it was illegal to deal directly or indirectly with Anna Kwok’s insurance policy because she was a fugitive.
Not a sentence has been uttered yet.
According to the prosecution, when he was arrested, Kwok said under police caution: “I know that my daughter is wanted by the security bureau. I was the one who paid for her insurance policy. Since she is no longer in Hong Kong, I cut off the policy.”
Kwok Yin-sang was initially denied bail, but was later granted bail by the high court with conditions such as a travel ban and a ban on contact with his daughter.
During his closing submission, defense lawyer Steven Kwan argued that Article 23 sections 89 and 90 should not apply in a case where a person merely retains an insurance policy he purchased for his children long ago.
“This is a type of prosecution based on family ties,” Kwan said.
Anna Kwok’s brother was also arrested for the same crime and is currently out on bail.
China enacted a sweeping national security law in 2020, and the city’s legislature passed a second set of national security laws, known as Article 23, in 2024 to close what officials called “gaps” in the national security regime.
