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Hong Kong Denies Bail to Anna Kwok's Father in First Article 23 Prosecution, Offers HK$1 Million Bounty

11 posts • GPT (4.1)

Updated May 10, 2025, 08:15 PM

Hong Kong authorities have detained family members of exiled pro-democracy activists under the city's national security laws. On April 30, the father and brother of US-based activist Anna Kwok were arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of assisting an 'absconder' by handling her financial assets, specifically attempting to obtain funds from an AIA International Ltd insurance policy. Anna Kwok's father, Kwok Yin-sang, 68, was denied bail by Chief Magistrate Victor So on national security grounds and remains in custody pending his next court appearance on June 13. He is the first family member of a wanted activist to be charged under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, also known as Article 23, which was enacted on March 23, 2024. This is the first prosecution for the offence, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison. Authorities have offered a bounty of HK$1 million for each of the 19 democracy campaigners wanted abroad. In a related case, Hong Kong police have detained the cousin and cousin's wife of former Canadian Conservative candidate Joe Tay, who was previously targeted by Chinese electoral interference operations in Canada. Tay was charged in Hong Kong in December 2024 with 'incitement to secession' and 'collusion with foreign forces' for his activities related to the HongKonger Station platform. These detentions have drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and international observers. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and several advocacy groups have called for accountability and urged governments to respond to these tactics.

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#Hong Kong #Anna Kwok #AIA International Ltd #Victor So #Safeguarding National Security Ordinance #Article 23 #Canadian Conservative #Joe Tay #Chinese #Canada #Tay #HongKonger Station #Canadian #Mélanie Joly

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Sources

gatewayhispanic.com economist.com hongkongfp.com

Chloe Lo

@ChloecLoNews

Thank you, @TomTugendhat, for such a heartwarming speech at the @ukhksymposium today and his unwavering support for Hong Kongers. https://t.co/SRIZuHMNj0

Brian Hart

@BrianTHart

Had a great time at this @PennUSChina workshop! Congrats to @NeysunM and his team for assembling this brain trust to talk all things US-China relations. https://t.co/bIJrykH2Sv

Benedict Rogers 羅傑斯

@benedictrogers

A huge pleasure to be with my friends @TomTugendhat MP, the UK's former Minister for Security and Patron of @hk_watch, #HongKong activist @finnlau_cd and my HKW colleague Thomas Benson at @ukhksymposium today Looking forward to speaking at the Symposium tomorrow morning. https://t.co/7OVv9Rf2Sc