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.
The 69-year-old was accused of attempting to manage his daughter’s financial assets after she left Hong Kong in 2020. Authorities say she is now wanted under national security charges.
Kwok was convicted under Article 23, a local law that expands on the Beijing-imposed national security legislation. Officials say these laws protect stability and target crimes such as treason and secession. Critics argue they restrict political freedoms and silence dissent.
Anna Kwok, 29, now lives in the United States. She is accused of colluding with foreign forces. Hong Kong authorities have placed a HK$1m bounty on her. She serves as executive director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council.
Police arrested Kwok Yin-sang and his son last year on suspicion of handling Anna’s financial assets. Only the father faced charges.
The case focused on an insurance policy he had purchased for his daughter as a child. He tried to withdraw about $11,000 from the policy. The defence argued the policy remained under his name. Prosecutors said ownership transferred to Anna when she became an adult.
The West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court found him guilty earlier this month.
Before sentencing, Anna Kwok said the case aimed to silence her activism abroad. She argued that political freedoms in Hong Kong continue to decline.
Hong Kong authorities responded that they acted in accordance with the law. The government stated that enforcement actions are not linked to political views and that officials must pursue suspects accused of endangering national security, even if they have left the city.
