US Activist's Father Sentenced to Jail in Hong Kong Under Security Law
The father of an American activist, who is fervently pushing for democracy, has been sentenced to eight months in jail by a court in Hong Kong. This decision was based on the city's controversial national security law. His crime? He attempted to cancel his daughter's insurance policy and access the money it held.
The 69-year-old man, Kwok Yin-sang, was declared guilty on charges related to handling funds or other financial assets of a person who has fled the country. This ruling is based on the local national security law, known as Article 23. Mr. Kwok is the first individual in the city to face and be convicted of such charges. He had previously pleaded not guilty and chose to remain silent during his trial. Despite his predicament, he remained composed in court and expressed farewell waves before being escorted back into custody.
Daughter's Activism
His daughter, Anna Kwok, is a key figure in a democracy advocacy group based in Washington. She is one of 34 activists living abroad who are sought by the national security police in Hong Kong. The charges against her are of collusion with foreign entities, and a reward of HK$1 million ($128,000) has been put up for her capture.
Meanwhile, in the US, Anna expressed her disdain for the Hong Kong government's actions against her father, calling it "utterly despicable". She also voiced her fear that "This is the first case, but it is not going to be the last case".
The Accusation
Mr. Kwok was accused of trying to retrieve a sum of HK$88,609 ($11,342) from an insurance policy that he had taken out for his daughter when she was just two years old.
The judge presiding over the case, Andy Cheng, stated that Kwok’s case was a grave one under the national security law and unrelated to familial relationships. He expressed, "There is no such thing as … collective punishment, and it has absolutely nothing to do with whether the defendant and the fugitive are family."
Daughter's Message to Her Father
When asked what message she would like to convey to her father, Anna Kwok expressed her desire to embrace him and apologize for the predicament she had placed him in. She shared, "Asian dads are not very known for showing affection with hugs and I realized this year, I actually … don’t think I’ve ever hugged my dad since I became an adult."
