HONG KONG (Journos News) – The father of a U.S.-based Hong Kong pro-democracy activist was sentenced to eight months in prison on Thursday, marking the first use of Hong Kong’s 2024 national security law against a relative of an activist living abroad. Kwok Yin-sang, 69, was found guilty of attempting to access financial assets belonging to his daughter, Anna Kwok, who is wanted by Hong Kong authorities under the same law.
The case highlights the broad application of Hong Kong’s security legislation, which critics say extends to family members of activists and raises concerns about “transnational repression.” Anna Kwok, executive director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, described her father’s conviction as a “judicial farce” and a form of guilt by association.
Authorities had previously offered a reward of 1 million Hong Kong dollars (about $127,900) for information leading to Anna Kwok’s arrest and prohibited anyone from managing her funds. She is among 34 individuals targeted in a wider crackdown following the 2019 anti-government protests, accused of soliciting foreign sanctions and engaging in activities deemed hostile to China and Hong Kong.
Background of the Case
The dispute centered on an insurance policy Kwok Yin-sang purchased for his daughter when she was a child. She assumed control of the policy at 18, and in 2025 her father attempted to terminate it and withdraw approximately $11,000. Hong Kong authorities charged him under the national security law for dealing with assets belonging to an “absconder.”
Acting principal magistrate Cheng Lim-chi sentenced Kwok to eight months, noting that while his actions did not directly threaten national security, they could discourage his daughter from returning to Hong Kong. The court rejected arguments for a lighter sentence, including his lawyer’s request for a 14-day term, citing no evidence that funds would be sent to Anna Kwok. The charge carries a maximum of seven years, though magistrates’ courts typically impose sentences under two years.
International Reactions
The sentence drew condemnation from U.S. lawmakers. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon called the conviction “cruel” and criticized it as part of Beijing’s cross-border effort to silence dissent. “Mr. Kwok was put on trial because his daughter spoke out against Beijing’s abuse of Hong Kongers’ rights,” Merkley said.
Hong Kong authorities have also issued bounties for other overseas-based activists, including former lawmakers Nathan Law and Ted Hui. Both the U.S. and the U.K. governments have publicly condemned these actions, viewing them as a threat to freedom of expression and political dissent.
In 2025, the U.S. sanctioned six Hong Kong and Chinese officials for acts of “transnational repression,” prompting Beijing to retaliate with its own sanctions on U.S. lawmakers and NGO leaders. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities maintain that these laws are essential for the city’s stability and security.
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Wider Context
The case underscores the reach of Hong Kong’s 2024 national security law, locally known as Article 23 legislation, and the 2020 Beijing-imposed law. Legal analysts note that extending penalties to relatives of activists abroad represents a significant expansion of the law’s scope, raising concerns among international human rights organizations and foreign governments.
Anna Kwok called the ruling “guilt by blood” and said it represents a form of “hostage taking” to pressure dissidents overseas. The decision adds to ongoing debates over the legality and ethics of applying national security measures to family members of activists living outside Hong Kong.
Source: AP News – The father of a US-based Hong Kong activist is sentenced to 8 months under national security law
