Father of Hong Kong Activist Anna Kwok Sentenced to Eight Months for National Security Violation

Kwok Yin-sang, father of pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok, was sentenced to eight months in prison by a Hong Kong court for attempting to access his daughter’s financial assets, violating national security laws under Article 23. Anna, now in the US and wanted by authorities, said the prosecution aims to silence her activism, while Hong Kong officials said the actions were “in accordance with the law.

Kwok Yin-sang, the father of pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok, has been sentenced to eight months in prison by a Hong Kong court for violating national security laws, marking a notable first in which a family member of a wanted activist abroad has been prosecuted. The 69-year-old was found guilty under Article 23, a locally enacted law that supplements the Beijing-imposed national security legislation, for attempting to access financial assets belonging to his daughter, who left Hong Kong in 2020 and is now wanted by authorities for alleged violations of the same national security framework.
The case centers on Kwok Yin-sang’s attempt to withdraw approximately $11,000 from an insurance policy he had purchased for Anna Kwok when she was a child. During the trial, his defence argued that the policy remained legally under his ownership and that he had every right to access it. Prosecutors countered that Anna automatically became the rightful holder of the insurance policy once she reached adulthood, and therefore any attempt by her father to access the funds constituted a breach of national security law. Kwok Yin-sang pleaded not guilty, but he was convicted on 11 February by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court.
Anna Kwok, who is currently based in the United States and serves as the executive director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council, is one of 34 activists wanted by Hong Kong’s national security police. She faces accusations of colluding with foreign forces, and Hong Kong authorities have issued a bounty of HK$1 million ($128,000; £94,000) for her capture. Her father and brother were arrested last year in connection with her financial assets, although only her father was formally charged and brought to trial.
In response to the sentencing, Anna Kwok stated that her father’s prosecution appeared to be politically motivated and aimed at silencing her activism abroad. She said, “My father's case really shows how political freedoms is reaching a new low in Hong Kong, and how the Hong Kong government, learning from Beijing, is committed to repress any sort of freedoms or any sort of campaign Hong Kongers dare to wage.” She framed the case as emblematic of the shrinking space for dissent and political expression in the city, reflecting growing concerns among activists and international observers about the use of national security laws to target critics and suppress opposition.
The Hong Kong government and police, however, defended the legal actions, emphasizing that they acted “in accordance with the law.” The authorities stated that law enforcement measures taken against individuals were not based on political stance, personal background, or occupation, but were strictly related to suspected offences that endanger national security. The government further asserted that it has a responsibility to pursue individuals suspected of national security violations, even if they have fled overseas.
The sentencing of Kwok Yin-sang underscores the broader context of Hong Kong’s national security framework, which critics argue is increasingly used to target political opponents and their families. The case highlights the legal and personal risks faced by activists and their relatives, and it has drawn international attention as an example of the challenges facing pro-democracy movements in Hong Kong under tightening state control. It also raises broader questions about the implications of national security legislation for civil liberties, familial rights, and the rule of law in the city.